Werder drop opening UEFA Cup semi-final 1-0 to Hamburg

The Green Whites fell victim to Martin Jol's HSV 1-0 at Weserstadion in the first-leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final clash.

In the second of the four Nord-derby "fests", HSV were in clear control of the opening half and took the lead just before the half-hour when Piotr Trochowski headed Guy Demel's cross to the far upper right corner. After being well out-played Werder started to gain composure but as echoed by Klaus Allofs, "This was just not our day today" and the final touches weren't there. In the final twenty minutes of the match Werder had match saving chances but both Markus Rosenberg and Claudio Pizzaro couldn't put the ball in the net.

Following the match Thomas Schaaf summarized the performance:

"We have to realise that a game consists of two halves. And you have to play your best in both."


One "away" goal down, Werder gets its chance to advance to the finals in Hamburg on 7 May.