Sargent scores again as Bremen emerge victorius in midweek make-up
DSC Arminia Bielefeld remain winless under new head-coach Frank Kramer after dropping a midweek round 20 make-up fixture 0-2 to SV Werder Bremen.
Hanseaten striker Josh Sargent scored for the third consecutive match on the bounce. The relegation-threatened Arminen are now winless in seven fixtures on the trot.
Hanseaten striker Josh Sargent scored for the third consecutive match on the bounce. The relegation-threatened Arminen are now winless in seven fixtures on the trot.
| Josh Sargent. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Roger Petzsche |
Bremen's Florian Kohfeldt opted for youth in his selection. A second start in four days proved too tall an order for the returning Niclas Füllkrug. Additionally, Ludwig Austinsson and Kevin Möhwald were initially given the night off. Youngsters Felix Agu and Romano Schmid took their place.
Kramer's slightly different 4-4-2 midfield diamond kept the visiting northerners at bay for most of the first half. Voglsammer and Doan came closest to opening the scoring during the initial half-hour. The Westphalian hosts might have entered the tunnel with the lead were it not for some heroic defending from Bremen's defensive captain Ömer Toprak.
Kohfelt replaced left-wingback Agu with Augustinsson at the half. The Swedish international immediately initiated a fine attacking sequence that, after more some more fine moves from Schmid and Milot Rashica, eventually led to Sargent pushing the ball over the line in the 47th. Kramer eventually sought more firepower via the introduction of Klos and the newly-acquired Michel Vlap.
The East Westphalians were not able to overcome being reduced to ten men in the 71st minute, however. Substitute Nathan de Medina saw red for a reckless challenge on fellow substitute Füllkrug's heel. Werder's Möhwald proved an effective joker by doubling Bremen's advantage in the 75th following some nice work from Rashica and Maximilian Eggestein.
The Bielefelders, to their credit, did not give up despite being down two goals and one man. Nevertheless, when the full-time whistle blew, the side had to reckon with the fact that their new head coach still awaited their first goal of his tenure.
The completion of the match now means that all 18 Bundesliga clubs have played 24 fixtures. Bremen move 11 points clear of the relegation playoff place whilst the Arminen sit two points from safety with ten matches to go.