Werder had to settle for a draw with Bidvest Wits in their final friendly in South Africa. Max Kruse twice put his side in front, but goals from Murray and Khumalo meant that the game ended 2-2. It was a day of missed chances for Werder, with Nuri Sahin and Martin Harnik both hitting the woodwork in the second half.
Line-up and formation: Florian Kohfeldt decided on a 4-3-3 formation for the game, with Jiri Pavlenka in goal. Beijmo, Langkamp, Moisander and Augustinsson lined up in defence, with Sahin, Klaassen and Eggestein ahead of them in midfield. Captain Max Kruse started alongside Milot Rashica and Josh Sargent up front.
27 mins: GOAL! Max Kruse curls in a free kick from 20 yards out to put Werder into the lead!
30 mins: 1-1. The ball is played into the box and tapped home from close range by Murray.
39 mins: GOAL – Werder back in front. Nuri Sahin lays the ball off to Kruse, who curls home from outside of the area!
45 mins: Werder lead 2-1 at half time.
66 mins: Philipp Bargfrede is caught on the ball and Khumalo scores to level things at 2-2.
90 mins: Full time. The game ends 2-2.
Match summary: Werder end their friendlies in South Africa with a 2-2 draw against Bidvest Wits. The Green-Whites are back in Bundesliga action next Saturday (19th January, 15:30 CET) away at Hannover 96.
Florian Kohfeldt: “It was a decent friendly today. We played very good football in parts and carved out a lot of chances. I’m considerably happier than after the game against Kaizer Chiefs.”
Max Kruse: “It was decent for 60 minutes, then we made a stupid mistake. We want to play football, so mistakes like that can happen. We’ve prepared well in South Africa for the Rückrunde and we hope to show that next week against Hannover.”
Bidvest Wits: Goss (46’ Mhlongo), Mere, Nonyane, Weidlich, Murray (62’ Khumalo), Mhango, Claasen, Mzwakali, Haashim, Kumalo, Ritchie
Werder Bremen: Pavlenka (46‘ Kapino), Beijmo (77’ Mbom), Augustinsson, Kruse (61‘ Pizarro), Rashica (61‘ Harnik), Langkamp (46’ Veljkovic), Sahin (61’ Bargfrede), Moisander (61’ Friedl), Sargent, Klaassen (83’ Wagner), M. Eggestein (61’ Möhwald)
Goals: 0-1 Kruse (27’), 1-1 Murray (30’), 1-2 Kruse (39’), 2-2 Khumalo (66’)
