SV Werder Bremen comfortably defeated second-division side Hannover 96 in a pre-season friendly. The Green-Whites won 2-0 at ‘Platz 11’, with Niclas Füllkrug (39’) and Josh Sargent (72’) on the scoresheet. Particularly at the start of the game and after the break, Florian Kohfeldt’s side had to survive spells of Hannover pressure. They came through those periods unscathed and thus recorded their sixth win in six pre-season games.
Line-up and formation: Kohfeldt’s men lined up in a 4-4-2 formation. Maximilian Eggestein and Patrick Erras were in central midfield, whilst Yuya Osako and Nick Woltemade took their positions on the wings behind strikers Niclas Füllkrug and Josh Sargent. The back four consisted of Felix Agu, captain Niklas Moisander, Christian Groß and Theodor Gebre Selassie. Marshalling the defence was goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino
Starting XI: Kapino- Osako, Füllkrug, Agu, Moisander, Sargent, Gebre Selassie, Erras, M. Eggestein, Groß und Woltemade.
Bench: Dos Santos Haesler - Toprak, Pudic und Nawrocki.
First half highlights:
3rd min: After an attack on the left-hand side, Sei Muroya has a powerful shot for Hannover. It could’ve been very dangerous for Werder keeper Stefanos Kapino, but the effort was blocked by a Bremen foot.
12th min: Yuya Osako has Werder’s first chance of the game, but his low shot from a corner goes narrowly wide. Maxi Eggestein sends his corner towards the back post, but it goes over everyone.
24th min: The agile Felix Agu looks to attack through the centre and has an effort from 20 metres, but it’s blocked and goes behind for a corner.
39th min: Gooaal! Niclas Füllkrug makes it 1-0 to SV Werder Bremen! Yuya Osako passes to Füllkrug in the penalty area, who comes in from the left and sends it into the far corner with his left foot. No chance for keeper Esser.
Second half highlights:
50th min: Impressive Japanese-American build-up: Yuya Osako sends a long ball to Josh Sargent who knocks it back into Osako’s path. Osako fires a shot away, but keeper Michael Esser punches clear.
56th min: Dangerous header for the guests from a corner, it goes narrowly wide. If fans had been allowed in ‘Platz 11’, you would’ve heard a collective intake of breath.
66th min: Nick Woltemade almost makes it 2-0, but his low shot from 15 metres goes the wrong side of the left post.
73rd min: 2-0! Josh Sargent scores for Werder! Hannover keeper Esser tries to clear the ball but hits it straight into his own player. Sargent capitalises, picks up the loose ball and slots into an empty net from 16 metres.
77th min: Werder are passing the ball well and keeping possession in the opposition half. Sargent tries a shot in the attacking third but it’s blocked.
Match summary: Hannover 96 put up a good fight in Bremen and made Florian Kohfeldt’s men work hard. The guests had their best chances in the first 15 minutes after the break, but Werder stood firm and kept a clean sheet for the third game in a row. Werder were clinical in attack and capitalised on Hannover keeper Esser’s mistake in ice-cool fashion. All in all, it was a deserved victory for SVW.
