Werder take a point from spectacle in Dortmund

Milot Rashica and Marco Friedl on the scoresheet in Werder's 2-2 draw at the Signal Iduna

Marco Friedl celebrates the equaliser in front of the travelling Werder fans.
Match Report
Saturday, 28.09.2019 / 20:31

Von Niklas Behrend

Topspiel by name, Topspiel by nature. On Saturday evening in Dortmund, BVB and Werder Bremen battled out a 2-2 draw which served as a true advert for German football. After only seven minutes, Milot Rashica showed everyone how important he is for the team with a superb strike on the half-volley to mark his return from injury. Dortmund wasted no time in fighting back and found themselves level courtesy of a Mario Götze not two minutes after going behind. With half time approaching, Marco Reus nodded the hosts in front, but Werder cancelled it out soon into the second half, as Sargent’s flick on from the corner was guided in by Marco Friedl at the back post. End-to-end football followed with good chances being created at both ends: a real spectacle, which could have gone either way, but ended in a draw.  

Line-up and formation: Werder’s rocket man, Milot Rashica, returned to the starting XI for the game in Dortmund. The other returnee to the side was somebody who knew the home ground all too well. Nuri Sahin made 274 competitive appearances for BVB and Kohfeldt gave him the start after his suspension. Johannes Eggestein and Benjamin Goller both dropped to the bench after starting against Leipzig. Milos Veljkovic also celebrated his comeback to a Werder squad as he took a place on the bench. Florian Kohfeldt played with a 4-3-2-1, with Josh Sargent playing on his own up front. Rashica and Bittencourt played behind the American with Eggestein, Klaassen and Lang playing as the midfield three. Friedl, Groß, Sahin and Gebre Selassie made up the back four, as Sahin man marked Marco Reus.

Early take-off cancelled out instantly

Werder defended well for much of the first half, despite the goals. (photo: nordphoto)

First-half highlights:

7th minute: The Werder end explodes! The green and whites take a 1-0 lead through a dream goal from Milot Rashica. Klaassen plays the ball over the top after taking it off Witsel with ease before Rashica smashes it in to the bottom left on the half volley. Keep it going, Werder!

9th minute: No way. In the same way all top teams do, BVB replied instantly. Mario Götze gets on the end of a cross from Piszczek and nods home for his first goal of the season to make it 1-1. A crazy few minutes!

16th minute: Pavlenka has to make a good save. Sancho comes forward from a central position and strikes towards the left hand corner but Pavlenka gets down to make a fingertip save. BVB are putting the pressure on...

30th minute: After a few minutes without any real excitement, in which Dortmund dominated possession but Werder defended well, the hosts get a half chance. Hazard cuts in from the right and shoots over the bar.

32nd minute: Rashica with a chance for SVW. Florian Kohfeldt’s boys string together a nice counter attack. Sargent sets Rashica free down the left wing with a lovely through ball. He bears down on the Dortmund penalty area and fires a shot towards the bottom corner of the goal. Bürki gets down in time to deny the number seven a second goal of the evening.

41st minute: Werder are brought back down to earth. SVW had been compact in defence up until now but Hazard is given too much space on the right flank. His cross finds the head of Marco Reus and he sends it on its way into the net past a powerless Pavlenka. BVB go 2-1 up.

45th minute: Half time in Dortmund. SVW started strongly but are not behind undeservedly. Some more precision in attack and some better defending out wide and it’s all to play for!

Intense and entertaining

End-to-end football (photo: nordphoto)

Second-half highlights:

50th minute: Werder came out swinging in the second half! SVW played with a great tempo right from kick off and it was Rashica who had the first big chance. Lang dribbled the ball to the byline before laying it back to Rashica who shot at goal. Blocked!

55th minute: Werder working hard to get the equaliser! Dortmund mess around with the ball in their own box, leading to a seemingly unchallenged shot at goal from Sargent. Unfortunately, at the last second, a Dortmund player threw himself in front of the ball to block the shot.

56th minute: Finally, a well-earned equaliser. Werder get themselves back level through Marco Friedl. Sargent got the flick on from a corner and Friedl was waiting at the back post to nod home in to an empty net. Well done, lads!64th minute: BVB have another chance to score. Götze’s header in the area is well saved by Pavlenka.

70th minute: Dortmund are pushing hard! Hakimi cuts inside and hits a powerful shot to Pavlenka’s right, but the keeper makes another fine save. The rebound falls to Hazard, whose shot is deflected wide by Friedl.

93rd minute: Full time. Werder and Dortmund draw after a thoroughly entertaining match.

Summary: A high-class Bundesliga game ends 2-2. Werder started perfectly, but then failed to use their possession and defended too passively for the Dortmund goals. BVB’s 2-1 lead at the break was deserved. Werder’s fight and quality was a lot better in the second half. Both sides had a large number of chances and Friedl took one of those for the visitors. In the end it was a deserved point for Kohfeldt’s men.

Latest news:

Joel Imasuen signs his contract extension.

Joel Imasuen extends contract with Werder Bremen
15.05.2024 / U23
Christian Groß looking out of the tunnel at the stadium.

“I’m going to get emotional”
14.05.2024 / First Team
The team in a huddle.

Still work to be done
13.05.2024 / First Team
Ole Werner speaking in the huddle.

“We should be proud of our performance”
11.05.2024 / First Team
Felix Agu running with the ball.

Points shared in Werder’s final away game
11.05.2024 / Match 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.