Following a 2-2 draw away to Anorthosis Famagusta, the fate of Werder Bremen’s exit from this season’s Champions League is sealed, but there is still a slight hope of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. After a decent Werder performance, albeit goalless, in the first half, Famagusta took a two goal lead after the break and look destined to win the tie but a determined Werder bounced back to rescue a point in the closing phase of the game.
Both sides had problems early on but as the first half progressed, the Green-Whites began to take more control of proceedings. In the 16th minute, Torsten Frings brought a stunning save from Anorthosis keeper Nagy and just on the half hour mark, it was only the width of the crossbar that saved the home side from going behind after Hugo Almeida riffled in a left footed shot from all of 30 meters. With the exception of those two efforts, Werder were unable force a way through and profit from their territorial superiority with the result that the teams went into the break at 0-0.
The second period proved a much more turbulent affair and for some time it appeared as if Werder were about to bow out of all European competition this season when goals from Nikos Nikolaou (62’) and Sávio (68’) put Famagusta 2-0 up. But a spirited Bremen side took on a never say die approach and managed to rescue a point thanks to a powerfully converted penalty kick by Diego and a last minute equaliser by Hugo Almeida. As current fourth placed team in Group B, the Green-Whites can only salvage a UEFA Cup spot by beating Inter Milan in the final group game.
Anorthosis Famagusta: Nagy – Constantinou, Katsavakis, Dellas, Leiwakabessy – Skopolitis (46’ Nikolaou), Dobrasinovic, Laban, Ocokoljic (56’ Frousos), Savio (71‘ Panagi) – Taher
Werder Bremen: Vander, Fritz (76‘ Boenisch), Mertesacker, Naldo, Tosic – Baumann (59‘ Hunt), Frings, Özil, Diego, Pizarro (79‘ Rosenberg), Almeida
Goals: 1-0 Nikolaou (62‘), 2-0 Savio (68‘), 2-1 Diego (70‘ pen.), 2-2 Almeida (87‘)
Yellow cards: Laban – Diego, Baumann, Frings, Tosic
Referee: Manuel Mejuto Gonzales (Spain)
Attendance: GSP-Stadium: 21,000
