Werder Bremen showed they were still in the race for the Bundesliga title by finishing their 111th birthday celebrations with a 2-1 home victory over Hertha Berlin on Friday.
Bremen snapped a five-game losing streak thanks to striker Claudio Pizarro’s match-winner nine minutes from the end.
Pizarro finally struck home after hitting the post in the 20th minute and twice being stopped by Berlin goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny in the 34th and 49th minutes.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“This win was very important for us,” Pizarro said. “You could see that you can’t just win in football. We were missing the fight, but we fought today and this victory will give us self-confidence.”
Werder jumped to 31 points from 21 matches, but remained in sixth place, four points behind fifth-placed Hamburg SV.
“The main thing was to gain some points,” Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said. “It was an up-and-down game, but the team showed that they wanted to win.”
Hertha Berlin suffered their first loss of the year and remained in last place with 11 points, seven points from safety.
“Again, nothing. We just have to win some points,” Berlin coach Friedhelm Funkel said. “We lost the game and there are fewer games left in the season, but the team has stabilized itself and we will get closer to staying in the league. We will get over this defeat and look forward to our next game and we have to win it.”
After three failed chances by Pizarro, Marko Marin gave Bremen the lead after 66 minutes, side-volleying a deflected shot by teammate Mesut Ozil.
Theofanis Gekas equalized for Berlin just two minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball which Bremen keeper Tim Wiese could not clear.
Pizarro finally grabbed his goal in the 81st minute when he trapped a free-kick and struck home with his left foot.
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