Frankfurt down Bremen in 7-goal thriller
Glasner's Frankfurt took an early lead before goals from Jung and Bittencourt put Bremen back in front. The host's lead didn't last long however, as Kolo Muani played a pivotal role in three of Die Adler's goals as they ran out 3-4 victors. Füllkrug's late penalty gave Bremen late hope but they failed to find a leveller in added time.
Buoyed not only by their blistering return to the German topflight, but also their record-breaking comeback win away to Borussia Dortmund last time out, Werder Bremen welcomed Oliver Glasner’s Frankfurt to the Weserstadion.
In spite of their stuttering start to the campaign it was Frankfurt who hit the front inside three minutes today as the combined efforts of their two new signings put them 0-1 up. Kolo Muani drove for the left endline and cut it back to the unmarked Mario Götze who shot low beneath the best attempts of the despairing Stage and Pavlenka to gift the dream start.
While Frankfurt boasts their best away record against Bremen, Die Werderaner weren’t standing on ceremony as they levelled matters on 15 minutes when Anthony Jung hammered the ball past Kevin Trapp after Ndicka’s tame clearance. Three minutes later and the game had turned completely on its head – a freekick on the right flank enabled Ducksch to find the head of Bittencourt who looped a fine header over Trapp to make it 2-1 in the host’s favour. Amazingly Kamada thought he had headed home at the other end directly after the restart, but Werder fans could soon breathe a sigh of relief when Kolo Muani was ruled offside in the build-up.
Just after the half hour mark and Kolo Muani, who was instrumental in the first goal pulled his side level oncemore. Given the nod over Borré and Alario for this evening’s clash, the Frenchman weaved his way through the Werder rear guard to prod the ball past Jiri Pavlenka for 2-2. In a game that continued to rain goals as momentum seemed to roll over and back, Die Adler amazingly made it 2-3 on 39 minutes. Some quick thinking from Rode played Lindstrøm in behind who roared through on goal and supplied a deftly chipped finish over the onrushing Pavlenka.
Almost as if the first 45 minutes of sheer attacking football from both teams had never ceased, Glasner’s Frankfurt made it 2-4 within minutes of the restart and this time through Djibril Sow. Kolo Muani took the attack to the left flank before finding the unmarked Daichi Kamada who in turn teed up the Swiss international who curled a beautiful strike into the top right corner beyond the powerless Czech shot stopper.
Just as he had done in previous weeks to great success, coach Ole Werner turned to his bench who have been instrumental in affecting the outcome of their recent matches. Gruev, Buchanan, and Schmidt took to the field in place of the departing Groß, goal scorer Jung, and Stage. Buchanan who found the net against Dortmund last Saturday almost did so again when replacement Schmidt found the Englishman in space, but he failed to trouble Trapp. Glasner also made subs of his own as Chandler and Knauff replaced Rode and Lindstrøm.
The early second half goal without doubt took the wind out of Bremen’s sails before they could even begin to mount another comeback. While their substitutions made some impact, it took a long ball on 89 minutes to produce a penalty when Ndicka was suspected to have clipped Ducksch’s feet inside the box. Füllkrug tucked away the resulting spot kick into the left corner for 3-4, and moments later they could have been level when Oliver Burke’s low cross sprang up over the bar when a very fortunate Tuta attempted to clear his lines in a safer manner. Nonetheless Frankfurt hung on to take all three points back to their home state of Hesse.