Johannsson caps off Werder's comeback

SVW get themselves a point after trailing 2-0 at half time

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Ishak Belfodik was productive in Werder's attack (Photo: Nordphoto).
First Team
Friday, 02.03.2018 / 22:24

Thanks to an excellent second half performance, Werder secure themselves a point in the Friday night Bundesliga game against Europa league-hopefuls Borussia Mönchengladbach. The game finished 2-2, after Werder went in at the break 2-0 down, so the boys needed to fight in the second half in order to grind out a point away from home. In front of 52,000 fans in Borussia Park, the Green-Whites quickly found themselves on the defensive and went 1-0 down after five minutes through Borussia's Dennis Zakaria. Then Niklas Moisander added to Werder's misery, as he put the ball in the back of his own net in the 33rd minute. Thomas Delaney's fine header from a Max Kruse corner set the game up for an incredible finish as Werder pulled it back to 2-1 in the 59th minute. The difference between the two halves was clear and no one else embodied this switch more than half time substitute Aron Johannsson, who managed to level the scores in the 78th minute and earn a point for Werder.

Line-up and formation: Kohfeldt made some fundamental tactical and personnel changes to the team for Borussia. Unlike in recent games, Pavlenka found in front of him a back three made up od Milos Veljkovic, Niklas Moisander and, for the first time in the starting line-up, Marco Friedl. As usual, Ludwig Augustinsson took his place as left wing-back and on the right Robert Bauer got his chance in the starting line-up. Theodor Gebre Selassie was forced to miss the game through injury. Werder's midfield trio was made up by Philipp Bargfrede, Thomas Delaney and Maximilian Eggestein. Max Kruse, who also wore the captain's armband, was supported up top by Ishak Belfodil. Zlatko Junuzovic and Florian Kainz, two of the players to start in the Nordderby victory were lurking on Werder's bench.

Zakaria gets a goal early on, Moisander scores at the wrong end

Dennis Zakaria opens the scoring early on and leaves the Green-Whites with it all to do (Photo: Nordphoto).

The highlights:

5th minute: Goal for Borussia, Dennis Zakaria. Thomas Delaney makes things easy for the Borussia forward. The dane, searching for one of his teammates misplaces his pass and ends up setting Zakaria up almost perfectly. Zakaria makes no mistakes with the finish and blasts past Pavlenka from close range, giving our No. 1 no chance.

16th minute: First good chance for the Green-Whites. Friedl latches on to the second ball from a corner and shoots from outside the box. His shot however hits Augustinsson and falls kindly for the Swede. He shoots from around the penalty spot but his effort strikes Vestergaard's outstretched leg and flies over the bar.

24th minute: Werder come close again and Borussia have their keeper Yann Sommer to thank for keeping them out. Belfodil turns on the style down the left-hand side going past Vestergaard, his shot is blocked however and Sommer quickly snaffles up the rebound.

33rd minute: Goal, 2-0 to Gladbach, Niklas Moisander (OG). Damn and blast. Zakaria drives in well on the right-hand side getting past Friedl too easily. He plays a low cross into the box, which Moisander tries to clear but ends up deflecting it into his own net.

38th minute: Another chance for the Green-Whites. Bargfrede dribbles skillfully into the opponents' penalty area, going past two Borussia players in the process but, on his weaker left foot fires his shot wide.

45 + 1 minutes: Half time at Borussia Park. Werder have had chances but haven't taken them and will need to come out better in the second half.

Werder turn up to the party and get their reward

New hope: Delaney gets one back for Werder (Photo: Nordphoto).

49th minute: Good start to the half! Delaney goes close, shooting from a tight angle but he just couldn't quite squeeze it in and his shot goes wide.

50th minute: Hazard crosses to find Hofmann at the back post but his header strikes Eggestein and goes wide of the post.

59th minute: GOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! 2-1 and Werder are back in it through Thomas Delaney. Kruse's corner is a great delivery and finds Delaney in acres of space. Delaney has managed to lsoe his marker, Oxford and loops his header brilliantly over Sommer's head, finding its way into the back of the net.

62nd minute: SO CLOSE! Werder are really giving it there all now! Johannsson wins a ball back well into Gladbach's half. He shoots from inside the box with a wicked strike but somehow Sommer manages to get his hand on it and deflects it over the bar.

69th minute: Pavlenka now keeps Werder in the game! Kramer puts Bobadilla through well but his shot is saved excellently by Pavlenka.

78th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLL!!! 2-2 All square! Aron Johannsson with the equaliser. The Green-Whites never gave up and got their reward. Eggestein puts the ball in over the top from the right-hand side and then put into the mixer by Gondorf, Johannsson finds the ball at his feel in the middle and smashes the ball into the roof of the net from six metres out.

90 + 5 minutes: That's it in Gladbach. Werder secure a vital point.

Summary: Florian Kohfeldt's team was largely changed from their last game but manages to come away with a point. Werder's attacking variety was on show to do, as they look dangerous throughout the game, with noticeable performances from Ludwig Augustinsson, Thomas Delaney and Aron Johannsson amongst others. However, their carelessness nearly cost them and Werder found themselves 2-0 down in the first half. Johannsson introduction signalled the switch in their play, as they were much brighter in the second half, playing in a 4-3-3 formation. Aron managed to get himself on the scoresheet too for the first time this season after Thomas Delaney's superb looping header. Those goals secured Werder the point in what was an excellent second-half performance.

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