SV Werder Bremen won their first friendly in South Africa 1-0 against the Kaizer Chiefs. Florian Kohfeldt’s team had full control of the game and didn’t allow the South Africans any real chances. Johannes Eggestein was the hero of the day, scoring the winning goal after some good play from Josh Sargent. The game was ended early due to bad weather.
Line-up and formation: Head coach Kohfeldt went with a 4-3-3 formation. Stefanos Kapino started in goal and Luca Plogmann took Pavlenka’s place on the bench as the Czech keeper has a cold. The back four consisted of Ludwig Augustinsson, Niklas Moisander, Sebastian Langkamp and Theodor Gebre Selassie. Kevin Möhwald, Jean-Manuel Mbom and Johannes Eggestein played in midfield, while Max Kruse, Milot Rashica and Josh Sargent played up front.
17 mins: Milot Rashica gets in behind on the right-hand side, but his cross cannot be turned home by Josh Sargent.
32 mins: Ludwig Augustinsson fouls Kabelo Mahlasela on the edge of the area. The Chiefs’ free kick is comfortably saved by Stefanos Kapino.
35 mins: Jean-Manuel Mbom sees his shot from just outside the area fly past the left post. A good chance!
39 mins: Kabelo Mahlasela bursts into the Werder penalty area, but thankfully Ludwig Augustinsson blocks the shot at the last second.
43 mins: GOAL – A great move by Werder. Johannes Eggestein gives it to Josh Sargent who plays a perfect ball into the box and Eggestein stabs home to open the scoring!
50 mins: The first half ends.
50 mins: Due to some bad weather, the game is abandoned. The players safety is too important for the game to carry on and thus Werder win 1-0 against the Kaizer Chiefs!
Conclusion: Florian Kohfeldt’s men deservedly win their first friendly of 2019. His side had more possession and the better chances. Eggestein’s winning goal was very well-made and taken. The next game against Bidvest Wits takes place next Friday (11/01).
Florian Kohfeldt: “It’s a shame that the game had to be stopped. We did a lot of hard work in the game, but we didn’t learn too many footballing lessons – which never pleases a coach. Obviously everybody’s health is the most important thing. Everyone in the ground could see that the game had to be stopped. It was still special to play a game in a ground like this.”
Werder Bremen: Kapino, Augustinsson, Möhwald, Kruse, Rashica, Langkamp, Moisander, Sargent, Gebre Selassie, J. Eggestein and Mbom (39‘ Wagner)
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma – Dax, Moon, Ntshangase, Mahlasela, Moleko, Mirwa, Gordinho, Zuma und Ngezana
Goal: 1-0 J. Eggestein (43‘)
