Werder Bremen save a late point against VfB Stuttgart

VfB Stuttgart already looked like the sure winners in the Bundesliga against Werder Bremen. But Bremen scored to equalize in added time.

Bremen’s Oliver Burke scored in the last minute of stoppage time to make it 2-2 (1-1) and scored Bremen’s second point of the season on matchday two. Niclas Füllkrug initially gave Werder the lead in the fourth minute. Wataru Endo (28th minute) and Silas Katompa Mvumpa (76th minute) temporarily turned the game around in favor of VfB, who lost their first win of the season.

Füllkrug with the quick lead for Werder

Bremen moved forward with determination and it was just three minutes before Bremen fans could celebrate the Bundesliga homecoming. Werder caught the ball in midfield. Anthony Jung crossed from the left into the penalty area, where Füllkrug prevailed over Waldemar Anton and headed the ball into the top left corner of the goal (4′).

Four minutes later, Füllkrug nearly followed suit, but slammed the ball into the crossbar from 16 meters (8′).

Endo initially fails because of Pavlenka

After about 15 minutes, Werder, who had been furious up until then, took their foot off the accelerator and let Stuttgart have the ball, but VfB did not know what to do with it and consequently got no deal. On 32′ Endo tries from distance. The powerful shot put Werder goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka in trouble, but it ended up coming too centrally.

Endo’s second attempt was therefore significantly better. In the 38th minute, the Japanese took the ball 20 meters from the goal and this time gave Pavlenka no chance. Powerful shot hit the left goal. 1:1 was also the half-time score.

Tomás forgives from an acute angle

After the change of sides, both teams were initially concerned about safety. However, the SVW ran into a counterattack after 55 minutes. Stuttgart’s Tiago Tomás had a clear shot from five metres, but the angle was too sharp for Pavlenka to save.

Overall, round two was pleasant in warm temperatures. Little happened in the penalty areas. After 69 minutes, Marvin Ducksch tried a shot from outside the area, but missed the goal. It was Bremen’s first goal of the second half.

Kalajdzic hangs up for Silas

The match was in danger of spiraling towards the final whistle, but then Stuttgart’s Sasa Kalajdzic had an idea. His deep pass reaches the fast Silas, who scores on Pavlenka, giving Stuttgart the lead (76′). Three minutes later, Silas ran free again towards Pavlenka, but this time Werder won and prevented the early decision (79′).

And so the door remained open for Werder. And in the last minute of the five minutes of added time, Werder went ahead. Mitchell Weiser stretched a ball in the penalty area to Burke, who suddenly found himself alone in front of Florian Müller and deflected the ball past the VfB goalkeeper (90’+5′).

Bremen fans criticize Mislintat for statements about Karazor

In the final stages, VfB replaced Atakan Karazor, just like on matchday one. Karazor was arrested while on holiday in Ibiza in mid-June. The Spanish judiciary initially charged the 25-year-old with raping a young Spaniard, six weeks later the charge was of sexual assault. On July 21, the VfB professional was released on bail. Karazor, who denies the allegations, is therefore still threatened with legal consequences.

VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat had repeatedly stressed that the defensive man was “Clearly our player and a full member of the team”. In reference to this, the fans of the east curve of Bremen held up a banner with the inscription: “No protection for perpetrators. Solidarity with those affected. Mislintat, shut up.”

“I have to live with it. I have a completely different conception of democracy and the judiciary, which is that there should be no bias. The principle of the presumption of innocence should clearly apply.”Milintat said.

Werder now against Borussia Dortmund

Werder are now away against Borussia Dortmund on matchday three next Saturday (20/08/2022, 15:30). At the same time, VfB Stuttgart welcomes SC Freiburg.