3-1, Werder with a convincing win against Wolfsburg

AN INCREDIBLE FIRST HALF PERFORMANCE HELPS SEND WERDER ON THEIR WAY TO A MASSIVE VICTORY - KAINZ BAGS HIMSELF A BRACE

It's just the beginning: Ludwig Augustinsson celebrates his first Bundesliga goal (Photo: nordphoto).
First Team
Sunday, 11.02.2018 / 19:56

Werder Bremen remain unbeaten at home under Florian Kohfeldt with a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg. Augustinsson scored his first goal in Werder colours after four minutes and set Werder along the path to victory. After that Werder had a few decent chances in what was an end-to-end game. It wasn't until the 40th minute, however, that Werder were able to grab their second and Florian Kainz was the man to do so. Shortly after the break however Wolfsburg were awarded a soft penalty. Pavlenka saved the initial shot from Paul Verhaegh, but the Wolfsburg man bundled home the rebound in the 49th minute. In the 73rd minute Werder countered with purpose and Florian Kainz bagged his second of the game as he slotted the ball home through the legs of the Wolfsburg keeper. With the three points the Werder boys have capitalised on what was a massive opportunity for them and have pulled some distance between themselves and the teams in the relegation places.

Tactics and Formation: After a 120-minute cup game in midweek, Florain Kohfeldt make one change to his starting XI; Philipp Bargfrede came back into the line-up after recovering from his slight foot injury with Thomas Delaney dropping to the bench. Tactically the Green-Whites started very similarly to the game on Tuesday night with a 4-3-3 set-up. Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander and Augustinsson, like in the three previous games, made up the defensive quartet. In front of them were Bargfrede, Zlatko Junuzovic and Maximilian Eggestein and up top there were Florian Kainz and Aron Jóhannsson on the wings with Max Kruse occupying his usual central position.

KAINZ GETS HIS FIRST GOALS OF THE SEASON

Made to measure: Florian Kainz scores his second of the season and second of the game (Photo: nordphoto).

4th minute: GOOOAAAALLLL! 1-0, Ludwig Augustinsson! Just like in the cup game in midweek, Werder get off to a lightning start. Junuzovic takes the corner from the right-hand side and Augustinsson runs on to it with real purpose, cannoning the ball into the net at the front post! The keeper and Wolfsburg defenders were unable to do anything to stop it. 

12th minute: Wolfsburg‘s first real attack. Augustinsson manages to make an intervention for a pass intended for Osimhen and for a reward receives a hefty kick on the back of his ankle. The referee decides to award a corner, which comes to nothing.

17th minute: Kruse crosses the ball in from the right hand side to Eggestein who is waiting in the middle. He pokes the ball goalward, past Casteels but it does not have enough pace on the ball to cross the line before a Wolfsburg defender boots it clear. Wolfsburg then counter and Pavlenka is called into action for the first time as he has to collect a cross delivered from Mehmedi. 

28th minute: Eggestein again has a big chance to double Werder’s lead. Jóhannsson beats William on the right-hand touchline and crosses the ball beautifully into the six-yard box, where Eggestein is ready to pounce. The forward is unchallenged in the centre but heads the ball straight at the keeper from a few yards out. It should have been two.

31st minute: The second Werder goal is surely on its way. In a nearly exact copy of the first goal, Junuzovic plays the corner to the front post and Max Kruse heads the ball home but William is just able to clear off the line. 

40th minute: GOOOOAAAAAALLL for Werder, 2:0, Florian Kainz! Dream goal! He pulls in off of the left-flank, where he bends home an absolute worldie, after a pass from Junuzovic. The keeper is helpless and Kainz doubles the lead.

45th minute: Half-time at the Weserstadion. After a lightning start from the Green-Whites the boys were unlucky not to double their lead early but will be happy at the break and with the crowd fully behind them.

WOLFSBURG STILL LOOK DANGEROUS COMING FORWARD

The Wolfsburg attack led by Victor Osimhen was silenced by the Werder defence (Photo: nordphoto).

49th minute: Goal for Wolfsburg, 2:1, Paul Verhaegh. Aytekin gives a soft penalty to Wolfsburg, after Moisander arguably brought Knoche to the ground in the area. Nevertheless, Pavlenka saves the initial shot but Verhaegh is the first to the rebound and manages to bundle in the rebound. 

61st minute: Werder have not really settled in the second half and Wolfsburg look more dangerous coming forward but the Werder defence looks strong and of course, we always have Pavlenka between the sticks. 

68th minute: Arnold takes a quick free-kick from a central position which catches the Green-Whites napping. However, Thomas Delaney intervenes sliding in and prevents the shot from Malli even reaching the goal. What a block, still 2-1.

73rd minute:GOAAALLLLLL for Werder, 3:1, Florian Kainz, again! Wolfsburg are really pushing forward now but leaving their defence exposed. Werder counter on one of the occasions where they left themselves short at the back. Bruma loses the ball to Kruse in the build-up. Kruse pushes forward and passes it out left to Florian Kainz, who takes two more steps and slots the ball between the keepers’s legs. Kainz bags himself his second. 

83rd minute: Werder find themselves with a lot of space on the counter now as the game really open up. Kruse again pushes forward and is one-on-one with Casteels but should really have passed to Gondorf who was in space. Kruse goes alone but scuppers the chance.

90th minute: That’s it in the Weserstadion. Werder come out on top with a brilliant 3-1 victory!

Conclusion: A well-earned home victory for the Green-Whites! The first Bundesliga goal for Ludwig Augustinsson and a brace for Florian Kainz make sure of an important victory down at the bottom of the table for Werder. Wolfsburg were underwhelming in the first half and barely had a shot on goal but came into the own a bit more in the second and started asking questions. They got a goal back through a dubious penalty but even that was not enough to derail Werder. Next Saturday Junuzovic, Kruse and co will find themselves against SC Freiburg in another vital game.
 

News

Milos Veljkovic in action for Werder.

“Things will go our way”
30.04.2024 / First Team
Leon Opitz in action.

Two friendlies to close out the season
30.04.2024 / First Team
Ole Werner speaking to the team in the huddle.

“There were a lot of good things"
27.04.2024 / First Team
The team going to celebrate in the corner.

Strong performance in 1000th Bundesliga away gam ...
27.04.2024 / Match Report
Marvin Ducksch taking a penalty.

Striving for victory on the road
26.04.2024 / preliminary report
Your web browser ist outdated.
The web browser you are using is no longer supported.
Please download one of these free and up to date browsers.
Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge
Chrome Firefox Edge
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
MS Edge
Why should I use an up to date web browser?
Security
Newer web browsers provide better protection against malware, data theft and other threats to your privacy and security. Up to date browsers continuously close security holes that allow attackers to enter your computer.
New Technologies
The technologies used on modern websites are better supported by newer web browsers. This both increases functionality and improves the website layout. By benefiting from new functions and extensions you will be able to surf the web faster and easier.