SVW draw with Sheffield Wednesday in a real game of two halves

Line-up and formation: Like in the friendly against U.S. Lecce, head coach Ole Werner played two different teams in both of the two halves. Michael Zetterer, who was still struggling with muscular problems at the start of the week, was fit enough to start. Niklas Stark captained the Green-Whites in the first half, with regular captain Marco Friedl taking the armband as normal after half time.

Kownacki finishes under pressure, Topp volleys home

Dawid Kownacki celebrates with his teammates.

Kownacki was the key man in the first half, scoring the opener and providing the initial spark for the second goal (photo: W.DE).

First half highlights:

27th minute: Zetterer is called into action for the first time. Nathaniel Chalobah shoots from distance, but Werder’s number 1 is at hand to parry his powerful shot wide.

31st minute: GOAL. Wagner fires the ball across goal from the left-hand side, where Kownacki does well to turn the ball home under pressure from a defender – 1-0.

37th minute: Almost an own goal! Weiser brings down a diagonal ball from Lynen with his chest and drills a cross into the box which is deflected. Otegbayo almost turns it into his own net, but Wednesday goalkeeper Charles manages to stretch across goal and claw it away.

49th minute: A brilliant GOAL! Kownacki chips the ball over the top to Adeh, who shoots straight at Charles. The ball loops up Topp on the edge of the box who hits a sweet volley into the far corner.

58th minute: Weiser breaks through on the right wing and plays in Topp. The striker fires at Charles, but the ball deflects straight back to him. Charles also manages to parry this second volley attempt away.

Wednesday with more momentum after half time

Marco Friedl competes for the ball with an opponent.

Sheffield Wednesday worked themselves back into the game in the second half (photo: WERDER.DE).

Second half highlights:

84th minute: Röhl’s side breakthrough on the right-hand side, where Friedl attempts to clear the ball. He can’t get there first though, and the ball breaks to Musaba, who rounds Backhaus and finishes to make it 2-1.

90th minute: Njinmah reacts quickest after the Owls give the ball away in build-up and lays the ball off to Bittencourt. His shot across goal is parried wide by Beadle.

97th minute: The Green-Whites lose the ball in the middle of the park. The ball is played through to Gassama who drives at the Werder defence before firing across goal from the edge of the box to level things up.

118th minute: Friedl makes a nearpost run and connects with a Deman corner, but he can’t keep his header down and it sails over the bar.

120+1st minute: Full time! The game between Werder and Sheffield Wednesday ends in a 2-2 draw.

Summary: SV Werder had complete control of the game in the first half, and after a cagey opening period they converted this dominance into a lead through goals from Kownacki and Topp. Wednesday gained a foothold in the game in the second half, and managed to level the game late on.

Match facts

SV Werder first half XI: Zetterer – Salifou, Stark, Veljkovic – Weiser, Lynen, Wagner – Adeh, Hansen-Aarøen – Topp, Kownacki

SV Werder second half XI: : Backhaus – Pieper, Friedl, Jung – Opitz, Stage, Deman – Imasuen, Bittencourt – Ducksch, Njinmah

Goals: 1-0 Kownacki (31‘), 2-0 Topp (49‘), 2-1 Musaba (83‘), 2-2 Gassama (97‘)

Attendance: 1,800 (sold-out)

Kownacki finishes under pressure, Topp volleys home

Kownacki was the key man in the first half, scoring the opener and providing the initial spark for the second goal (photo: W.DE).

First half highlights:

27th minute: Zetterer is called into action for the first time. Nathaniel Chalobah shoots from distance, but Werder’s number 1 is at hand to parry his powerful shot wide.

31st minute: GOAL. Wagner fires the ball across goal from the left-hand side, where Kownacki does well to turn the ball home under pressure from a defender – 1-0.