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Werder beat Okayama 2-0
MATCH REPORT FROM THE FRIENDLY AGAINST OKAYAMA
22/07/26 | 3 Min
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SV Werder Bremen beat Fagiano Okayama 2-0 in their second pre-season friendly. New signing Chuki put the Green-Whites ahead in the first half (26’), before Mats Heitmann added a second after the break (80’). Read on for the full match report from today’s outing at the Parkstadion in Zillertal, Austria.
FIRST HALFHein alert to the danger, Chuki strikes from range
Head coach Daniel Thioune, who celebrated his 52nd birthday the previous day, made several changes to his starting XI from the game against Verden. New signings Chuki and Kenny Quetant were among those to start against the Japanese top-flight side, as was Patrice Čović.
The Green-Whites, wearing their new 2026/27 third kit for the first time, made an energetic start, but it was Okayama who created the early chances. Towa Yamane’s corner found Ryoya Ogawa, who attempted a header, but Karl Hein was alert to the danger (11’). The Werder goalkeeper was then called upon again to deny the first clear-cut opportunity of the game, producing a strong save against Jun Nishikawa before the Japanese forward failed to make the most of the rebound (13’).
Marco Grüll registered Werder’s first effort with a long-range strike in the 15th minute, and the Green-Whites began to grow into the game from there. Jens Stage then went closest to opening the scoring. The Dane rose to meet a corner inside the six-yard box and headed against the underside of the crossbar, before Amos Pieper was unable to steer the rebound goalwards (24’).
Just two minutes later, however, the ball was in the net. Paul Erevbenagie won possession high up the pitch and Chuki took over, driving forward before finding the bottom corner from around 27 yards to make it 1-0 (26’). That remained the score at the break.
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SECOND HALFHeitmann seals the win
Werder emerged for the second half with an almost entirely new XI, with Luca Höcker initially the only player to remain on the pitch. Chances were at a premium after the restart, though Salim Musah threatened in the 58th minute when his effort was blocked at the last moment.
At the other end, Kazunari Ichimi came close to netting an equaliser. The 28-year-old worked himself into a good position with a neat dribble but sent his shot well wide (62’). Moments later, Markus Kolke was forced to intervene against Jun Nishikawa, before Haruka Motoyama failed to convert the rebound (63’).
Werder wrapped up the win with ten minutes remaining. Samuel Mbangula delivered a free-kick into the box and Mats Heitmann headed home from close range to make it 2-0 (80’). Musah could even have added a third after getting on the end of a good pass from Justin Njinmah (86’), but there were to be no further goals.
SV Werder will be back in friendly action on Saturday, 25th July 2026, when Thioune’s side take on VfL Bochum at 13:00 CEST.
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Match facts
SV Werder Bremen: Hein – Höcker (72’ Grüll), Pieper (46’ Stark), Wójcik (46’ Schmetgens), Deman (46’ Hamouda) – Stage (46’ Soylu), Čović (46’ Heitmann), Chuki (46’ Kownacki) – Erevbenagie (46’ Njinmah), Quetant (46’ Musah), Grüll (46’ Mbangula)
Fagiano Okayama: Benda (46’ Kawanami) – Ogawa, Tagami, Kawano, Ichimi, Fujita, Motoyama, Matsumoto, Suzuki, Nishikawa, Yamane
Goals: 1-0 Chuki (26’), 2-0 Heitmann (80’)
Yellow cards: – / Mori
Referee: Walter Altmann
Attendance: 1,600
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