SV Werder Bremen were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal following a 2-1 defeat in the quarter-finals against Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday evening. The third-division side took the lead in the 35th minute through Marius Wörl before an own goal from Julian Malatini doubled their advantage (41’). Oliver Burke was able to get one back for the Green-Whites (56’) but was unable to prevent their elimination.
Line-up and formation: Head coach Ole Werner went with a front two of André Silva and Marvin Ducksch for the first time this season. Romano Schmid was not included in the matchday squad due to illness and was replaced by Marco Grüll.
Starting line-up: Zetterer - Jung, Stark, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Silva, Lynen, Grüll, Köhn and Malatini.
Subs: Backhaus - Pieper, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Veljkovic, Burke, Agu, Alvero and Kaboré.
First-half highlights:
11th minute:Ducksch plays the ball to Weiser, who is able to dribble into the six-yard box from the touchline. Bielefeld goalkeeper Kersken is able to get down in order to make the save.
35th minute: Arminia take the lead. Malatini loses possession against Wörl on the edge of the penalty box, with the midfielder able to curl a shot in off the far post.
36th minute: Another good opportunity for the hosts. Russo delivers a free kick towards goal but Zetterer is able to dive to claw the ball away from the top corner.
41st minute: 2-0 to Bielefeld. Russo’s cross from the right flank looks to be sailing across the face of goal. Malatini sticks out his leg to attempt to clear it, but instead redirects it towards goal. Weiser rushes back to help, but is unable to stop the ball from crossing the line.
Second-half highlights:
48th minute: What an opportunity to get one back! Stage does well to pick out Njinmah, who is through on goal with only Kersken to beat. The goalkeeper keeps his nerve and is able to strip the striker of the ball.
55th minute: Burke gets one back! Uldrikis loses possession in midfield as Bittencourt is able to move the ball up the pitch. After beating his marker, the midfielder picks out Burke in front of goal who slots home to cut the deficit.
58th minute: Arminia nearly restore their two-goal lead on the counter-attack. Lannert takes a heavy touch that takes the ball away from goal, but Zetterer is able to save his shot from a tight angle.
62nd minute: Werder continue to push for an equaliser. Bittencourt is unable to get off a shot, before the ball falls to Njinmah. His effort just misses the target.
82nd minute: The Green-Whites have the ball in the back of the net again, but it won’t count after the referee blew his whistle to signal a foul in the build-up.
90th minute +2: What a chance! Pieper, who has come on in attack, sends a header crashing off the crossbar.
90th minute +7: Grodowski fouls Agu before initiating a counter-attack. Schreck is able to beat Zetterer, but the goal is later disallowed. The referee consults with the VAR before it’s chalked off for a foul on Agu
90th minute +10: Full time. Werder have been eliminated from the DFB-Pokal at the quarter-final stage. The Green-Whites will be back in action on Saturday, 1st March at 15:30 CET against VfL Wolfsburg.
Summary: Werder started well into the match but completely lost control following Ducksch’s injury and subsequent substitution. Two quick goals for Arminia left the Green-Whites with a mountain to climb in the second half. Despite an improved performance, Burke’s goal wasn’t enough to inspire a comeback, as Werder bowed out of the DFB-Pokal.
Arminia Bielefeld: Kersken - Lannert, Schneider, Felix, Oppie - Kunze (66' Großer), Russo, Schreck - Wörl (90' Grodowski), Corboz - Kania (55' Uldrikis (66' Sarenren Bazee)
SV Werder: Zetterer - Malatini (88' Pieper), Stark, Jung - Weiser, Lynen, Köhn (82' Agu) - Stage, Grüll (46' Bittencourt) - Ducksch (30' Njinmah), Silva (46' Burke)
Goals: 1-0 Wörl (35'), 2-0 Malatini (41', OG), 2-1 Burke (56')
Referee: Robert Hartmann
Spectators: 26,311 (sold out)
