Team News: Ole Werner gave a chance to some of the more fringe players to show their skills in the friendly against against Gladbach, with numerous U23 players offering depth and support.
Starting XI: Zetterer – Pieper, Weiser, Lynen, Löpping, Njinmah, Schmid, Rapp, Sato, Friedl, Röcker.
Substitutes: Dos Santos Haesler – Asato, Kasper, Kühn, Kébé, Schwarz, Imasuen.
Werder create the better chances
Highlights of the first half:
9’: The Foals attempt to create chances through low driven balls into Werder’s box, following a period of possession, but Michael Zetterer is awake to the danger and deals with them well.
16’: A first big chance for Werder: Jakob Löpping is played in and his attempt loops over the outrushing Olschowsky. Tony Jantschke is there, though, and clears the ball off the line.
18’: Sato tests Olschowsky: This time, Kein Sato is found in the right channel and sent into the area. His powerful strike is dealt with by a fine save from the Gladbach ‘keeper.
29’: Zetterer called into action, as Julian Weigl sends a half-cleared corner into the middle. The cross comes to a shot, but ‘Zetti’ puts the ball over the crossbar superbly.
36’: A cross finds its way to Sato at the back post. The striker cuts back inside and is denied at his first attempt, before his rebound fires past the post.
Njinmah wins it late
Highlights of the second half:
56’: Off the post from Robin Hack! The Gladbach winger cuts inside off the left wing and curls a shot towards goal, which crashes off the woodwork. A slice of good fortune for Werder as they clear.
62’: After a fine first touch, Justin Njinmah puts in a silky turn and fires off a shot, but his attempt is off target.
67’: Ngoumou drives down the left and fires a ball across the box. Zetterer palms the cross away before keeping hold of the rebound.
69’: Werder combine well on the right side of the ‘box, as Philipp Kühn sits a defender down and takes a shot. He was tackled well by a second defender as he fired towards goal, though, and the chance runs out of steam.
85’: Werder lead! Schwarz is fed down the right and crosses first-time. Njinmah is ready and waiting to pounce, and he finds the bottom left corner!
90’+4: That’s full time. Werder perform well and reward their good showing with a late goal from Justin Njinmah.
Summary: Both sides made it clear ahead of the game that they wanted to keep their rhythm, and that is exactly what happened. In another positive, there were no injuries in a fairly-played game in the summer heat. Werder had a slice of luck with Robin Hack hitting the post, before an eye-catching attack was finished by Njinmah for the winning goal of the day.
Werder create the better chances
Highlights of the first half:
9’: The Foals attempt to create chances through low driven balls into Werder’s box, following a period of possession, but Michael Zetterer is awake to the danger and deals with them well.
16’: A first big chance for Werder: Jakob Löpping is played in and his attempt loops over the outrushing Olschowsky. Tony Jantschke is there, though, and clears the ball off the line.
18’: Sato tests Olschowsky: This time, Kein Sato is found in the right channel and sent into the area. His powerful strike is dealt with by a fine save from the Gladbach ‘keeper.
29’: Zetterer called into action, as Julian Weigl sends a half-cleared corner into the middle. The cross comes to a shot, but ‘Zetti’ puts the ball over the crossbar superbly.
36’: A cross finds its way to Sato at the back post. The striker cuts back inside and is denied at his first attempt, before his rebound fires past the post.