Borussia rescue late draw in Bremen

Borussia drew 2-2 with SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 32 of the Bundesliga. Florian Neuhaus equalised from the penalty spot in injury time.

In front of 42,100 spectators at a sold-out Weserstadion, the Foals made the perfect start. Robin Hack put Borussia ahead from a brilliant Rocco Reitz pass in the eighth minute. Gladbach remained the dominant team afterwards and created several more gilt-edged chances, including two just for Manu Koné. Around the halfway point of the first half though, the hosts began to grow into the game more and control the proceedings. Just before the break, they made sure this was reflected in the scoreline, as Nick Woltemade levelled at 1-1. After half time, the two teams played out an open encounter in which both created several presentable chances. Werder took the most advantage though, and turned the game around completely through Woltemade in the 65th minute. Borussia remained full of attacking endeavour, but were missing the final finish. In the 82nd minute, Ducksch had a chance to wrap the game up but hit the side-netting. Just before the end of the 90 minutes, Čvančara’s shot hit the hand of Friedl. Referee Timo Gerach awarded the Foals a penalty for handball. Neuhaus stepped up and hammered home the spot kick for 2-2.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Gerardo Seoane made three changes to his starting eleven from the 0-0 draw with Union Berlin last time out. Franck Honorat, Manu Koné and Julian Weigl (after suspension) all came in for Stefan Lainer, Fabio Chiarodia and Tomáš Čvančara. Moritz Nicolas therefore started in goal once again in Bremen. Nico Elvedi, Marvin Friedrich and Ko Itakura made up the defence, with Franck Honorat and Joe Scally as wing-backs. Julian Weigl and Manu Koné started in midfield, with Rocco Reitz, Robin Hack and Alassane Plea in attack.

The Foals were missing Tony Jantschke (adductor problems), Max Wöber (minor thigh strain), Grant-Leon Ranos (foot injury), Simon Walde (syndesmosis tear) and Shio Fukuda (ankle injury). The game also came too early for Christoph Kramer after illness.

FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS

8’: The Foals take the lead with their first real chance of the game. Reitz plays a superb ball through the eye of the needle to Hack, who advances and keeps his cool in front of Zetterer to slot into the bottom corner for 1-0.

12’: Next big chance for Borussia. Koné shoots from a tight angle, but Zetterer is there to tip the ball over.

44’: The Foals pile forward and find Koné on the edge of the penalty area. The Frenchman aims for the bottom corner but it goes just wide.

45’: The hosts equalise. Lynen, Bittencourt and Woltemade advance into the Foals’ penalty area and the latter hammers home.

SECOND HALF HIGHLIGHTS

50′: A good chance for Reitz, who drives into the box and is able to get a shot off, but has to watch it sail just wide of the far post.

58′: Werder’s Woltemade is able to get a head to a cross from Ducksch, but his effort goes over the bar.

65′: The hosts take a 2-1 lead after a corner from Ducksch is headed in by Woltemade.70′: Two good chances for the Foals! Reitz redirects a Scally cross on target with a powerful header, but Zetterer is able to parry it. The ball falls to Honorat, who lays it back to Reitz again. His second attempt is also saved by the Werder ‘keeper.

70’: Borussia counter quickly as Hack is able to get off a shot, but it goes well over the woodwork.

82′: Weiser squares the ball to Ducksch, who hits the side-netting with his shot.

90+1′: Penalty to Borussia! Neuhaus steps up to take it and keeps his cool, smashing his spot-kick in under the bar to bring the Foals level late on.

90+4′: Kownacki forces Nicolas to react quickly to deny his header with a fantastic save. The goalkeeper is also able to keep out the rebound to rescue a point for Borussia.

STATISTICS

Werder Bremen: Zetterer, Veljkovic, Friedl, Jung (Stark 75’), Weiser, Bittencourt (Deman 83’), Lynen, Agu, Schmid, Woltemade (Stage 75’), Ducksch (Kownacki 90+2’) // Unused substitutes: Dos Santos Haesler, Malatini, Groß, Hansen-Aaröen, Opitz

Borussia: Nicolas, Honorat (Ngoumou 71’), Elvedi, Friedrich (Lainer 71’), Itakura, Scally, Weigl, Koné (Neuhaus 71’), Reitz (Jordan 79’), Hack, Plea (Čvančara 46’s) // Unused substitutes: Omlin, Chiarodia, Netz, Herrmann

Goals: 0-1 Hack (8’), 1-1 Woltemade (45’), 2-1 Woltemade (65’), 2-2 Neuhaus (90+1’ (pen))

Yellow cards: none

Attendance: 42,100 (Weserstadion)

Referee: Timo Gerach (Landau)