Two late goals from Mainz saw them overcome a spirited Werder Bremen side and claim a 2-1 victory. The home side had taken the lead in the 12th minute through a sensational long-range strike from Izet Hajrovic and looked as though they would earn their first points of the new Bundesliga season, but goals from Jhon Cordoba and Pablo de Blasis sent them to a harsh defeat late in the game.
Line-up and formation: Interim head coach Alexander Nouri made a few unexpected changes for his first starting eleven, bringing in Izet Hajrovic and handing debuts to Niklas Moisander and Ousman Manneh. Jaroslav Drobny was preferred to Felix Wiedwald in goal. The team lined up in a 4-1-4-1 setup, with Manneh as lone striker.
The highlights:
4th minute: First good opportunity for Werder! Fritz attacks the left side and delivers a cross towards Junuzovic, a scramble ensues, the ball falls to Manneh, but his effort is blocked by Jonas Lössl.
10th minute: Great start from the home side!
13th minute: GOOOOOAAAAL FOR WERDER! Werder launch a counter after winning the ball back in their own half, Hajrovic picks up the ball on the right wing, turns brilliantly and advances on goal. Around 25 yards out he cuts in onto his left foot and smashes the ball high into the net! Fantastic strike!
20th minute: Gaetan Bussman has the visitors’ first opportunity, but Drobny remains untroubled.
28th minute: There have not been many big chances here, but Werder look invigorated in their play. The home side have had the run of the game so far, but Mainz are looking for a way back into the game.
29th minute: A great cross from Hajrovic finds debutant Manneh, but he cannot connect properly with the ball. Close to a second for Werder!
36th minute: Former Werder man Öztunali pushing his new team mates in search of the equaliser, but Manneh is on hand to clear the ball. What a debut so far!
43th minute: Mainz have been getting into the game a little in this spell leading up to the break, and have just won their sixth corner, though they have been unable to do anything with them.
45th+1 minute: The half time whistle. Excellent performance from Bremen so far on Bundesliga matchday 4.
53rd minute: Fabian Frei hits a dangerous effort at the Bremen goal, but Drobny is on hand to deal with it.
54th minute: Werder substitution: Lennart Thy replaces Ousman Manneh, who did very well on his first team debut,
57th minute: Clemens hits a stinging shot from the left wing, but Drobny gets a strong arm behind it to parry it away.
63rd minute: A ridiculous minute of play! Cordoba is through one-on-one with Drobny, but the Werder goalkeeper makes a great save. Immediately afterwards, the home side reclaim the ball and launch a counter of their own, with Gnabry slipping the ball through to Hajrovic, but Jonas Lössl makes an almost identical stop at the other end.
66th minute: Thy gets his first opportunity after coming on, but his shot is blocked.
75th minute: Mainz and coach Martin Schmidt are pushing frantically for the equaliser, but Bremen’s defence is holding strong. Only a quarter of an hour left…
83rd minute: Substitute Holtmann almost gets Mainz back on level terms, but Drobny is commanding as he claims the cross.
86th minute: Goal for Mainz. Just minutes before full time, the visitors are level, Yunus Malli scoring the goal from close range.
88th minute: Referee Wolfgang Stark sends Alexander Nouri to the stands.
90th+1 minute: Harsh. Holtmann attacks the left side and delivers a cross towards the near post. De Blasis attacks the ball and heads it past Drobny to notch what will surely be the winning goal. Unbelievable. Werder lose the points just minutes before the final whistle.
Conclusions: Werder started strongly and were extremely committed under the guidance of interim head coach Alexander Nouri. They fully deserved their lead. Mainz worked hard to get back level immediately after conceding, getting stronger as the game went on. Their equaliser came moments from the end, and the winner in the very final seconds. An extremely bitter end for Werder, who must now wait even longer to earn their first points of the Bundesliga season. The next game will come on Saturday afternoon at home against VfL Wolfsburg.
