Werder Bremen lost their DFB Cup first round tie against Sportfreunde Lotte 2-1 on Sunday. André Dej netted a 54th-minute winner, after Zlatko Junuzovic had cancelled out Matthias Rahn’s early opener before half time. Werder, who were reduced to ten men in the closing stages, are now out of the DFB Cup.
Line-up and formation: There were no surprises in the first starting XI of the season for Werder. A back four of Theodor Gebre Selassie, Janek Sternberg and new recruits Lamine Sané and Niklas Moisander stood in front of regular goalkeeper Felix Wiedwald. Clemens Fritz and Zlatko Junuzovic made up the defensive midfield, with Fin Bartels, Sambou Yatabaré and Max Kruse further forward. Lennart Thy played as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
2nd minute: A lapse in concentration from Moisander leads to a great chance for Sportfreunde. Clemens Fritz chases Rosinger down and puts in a last ditch challenge to stop the striker getting a shot off. The resulting counterattack leads to an early opportunity for Sambou Yatabaré but his shot lacks power. Eventful start in Lotte!
8th minute: Goal for Lotte. Matthias Rahn meets a corner at the near post and places it into the top corner on the half-volley. An early setback for SVW.
10th minute: Almost an immediate reply! The third-division team’s defence only manage to clear a Zlatko Junuzovic free kick as far as Fin Bartels 20 yards out. His deflected shot comes back off the crossbar.
16th minute: Rosinger calls Felix Wiedwald into action again. He drifts in from the right and attempts to lob the ball over the onrushing Werder goalkeeper, who reads his mind to keep the score to 1-0. It’s been end-to-end stuff during the early stages here in Lotte, in which Werder have been searching for defensive stability. Werder are still looking dangerous on the counter though.
28th minute: Few chances but the tempo of the game is still high with Werder still looking for a way through the Lotte defence. Yatabaré’s effort from 25 yards flies harmlessly over the crossbar.
36 minute: Lotte’s Alexander Langlitz is allowed to bring the ball half the length of the pitch and hammers it towards goal. Fortunately, his effort rattles the woodwork rather than rippling the back of the net. Wiedwald was needed just before to keep out a long range effort from Neidhardt. The third division side are creating the clearer goalscoring opportunities.
45th minute: GOOOAAALLLL! Bartels begins the move with a ball out to Janek Sternberg on the right wing, he crosses for Junuzovic who heads home from five yards under pressure from Gerrit Nauber. What a time to grab an equaliser, so soon before the break. Both of the players who challenged for the ball need to be treated for head injuries. The half-time whistle comes shortly after.
47th minute: Werder have come out all guns blazing in the second half. Max Kruse plays in Bartels on the run, but his side-footed effort lacks the power to trouble Benedikt Fernandez in the hosts' goal. Nevertheless, a good start to the second half for SVW! Keep it up!
48th minute: Lotte aren’t holding back either though, as Hosinger gets a free header from a free-kick into the box. Luckily, Wiedwald is on hand to pull off a great reflex save and keep the scores level.
54th minute: Werder go behind again. Following a fast, flowing move from Lotte, André Dej finds himself one-on-one with Wiedwald and gives the Werder man no chance as he slots home. Werder will have to come from behind again to win as Lotte lead 2-1.
57th minute: How has that not gone in? Werder miss out on an immediate equaliser just like in the first half. Kruse beats his man on the wing and finds Junuzovic in the centre but Fernandez throws up the left arm at the last second to keep out his effort.
62nd minute: Werder head coach Viktor Skripnik brings on Florian Kainz and Johannes Eggestein for Sambou Yatabaré and Lennart Thy.
68th minute: Now it’s heating up. Fritz and Wendel confront each other and both receive yellow cards after a heavy challenge,
75th minute: Bernd Rosinger shoots just wide following a corner – Wiedwald wouldn’t have had a chance. Skripnik introduces Florian Grillitsch for Clemens Fritz shortly after. Keep fighting, lads!
83rd minute: Fin Bartels is sent off for violent conduct. Meanwhile, the game has hit boiling point and the players will have to try to keep their cool.
90th minute: Five minutes of added time for Werder to find the equaliser. Lotte run down the clock by making a substitution. The game is now only being played in the host’s half but Werder still can’t find the breakthrough. Will SVW be able to get the equaliser by the end of the game?
95th minute: Full time in Lotte and Werder exit the cup in the first round.
In summary: SV Werder’s season has gotten off to a negative start. The Green-Whites couldn’t bring their individual quality to the fore and in the hectic final periods of the game, they couldn’t unpick Lotte’s defence. Wiedwald, Fritz and Co. will have to digest this defeat quickly ahead of the Bundesliga opener against Bayern Munich.
