Following the Pokal victory against Energie Cottbus, Werkself were only able to return home with a 1-1 against Borussia Dortmund in the first match of Rückrunde.
Using the same line-up as in Wednesday’s victory, Werkself was unable to get going against Jürgen Klopp defensive tactics. Die Schwarzgelben took the lead with nine minutes remaining in the half when Swiss international Alexander Frei scored from a defensive miscue by Lukas Sinkiewicz.
With the second half restart, Werkself stormed forward and five minutes in Stefan Kießling headed a free-kick hit into the area off the bar. However the leveling goal came three minutes past the hour off the work of Tranquillo Barnetta and Renato Augusto with the Swiss midfielder sending the ball back to the penalty spot to Patrick Helmes and he drove his thirteenth goal of the year into the net.
Leverkusen continuted to pressure and with sixteen minutes Tranquillo Barnetta was in alone on
Dortmund goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller but his shot was over the bar. Further attempts failed and the match ended with a unsatisfactory 1-1 draw.
Bayer coach Bruno Labbadia was disappointed with the draw saying:
“Considering the way we played in the second half, I believe my team deserved to take all three points.”
Sunday, February 1, 2009
a good start and we WILL SURVIVE
It was not going to be easy climbing up the table and although a loss does not improve our position, it is very obvious Hans Meyer has re-tooled Gladbach into a much tougher squad. Using strong defending tactics, three abreast in the back-line and a sweeper, VfB were held back for the majority of the match before defeating Gladbach 2-0. The painful defending that marked the Hinrunde was absent and is now was a strong, proud team.
Gladbach started with strong tactical plan with new signings Paul Stalteri, Logan Bailly and Tomáš Galásek in the lineup. The Czech veteran provided immediate leadership and a steady hand in structuring play and movement as was the cause of much of the quality play. Gladbach started with confidence as Rob Friend tested Jens Lehmann early but maybe it was a day for veterans as he kept his goal clear. The first half ended without many significant attempts but Gladbach look in relative control and displayed confidence. The start of the second half started much of the same and with the match appearing like it was headed to a scoreless draw, Ciprian Marica’s effort went off Roel Brouwers and into the net, giving VfB the lead with twenty-three minutes remaining. Forced to abandon his strategy, Hans Meyer called upon Oliver Neuville, Marco Marin and Roberto Colautti to find the needed goal but they could not summon the necessary strike. Mario Gómez added the second goal from close range with five minutes remaining and the match ended 2-0 in favour of VfB.
A good effort but one that still needs to be improved upon as we face 1899 Hoffenheim next week.
Gladbach started with strong tactical plan with new signings Paul Stalteri, Logan Bailly and Tomáš Galásek in the lineup. The Czech veteran provided immediate leadership and a steady hand in structuring play and movement as was the cause of much of the quality play. Gladbach started with confidence as Rob Friend tested Jens Lehmann early but maybe it was a day for veterans as he kept his goal clear. The first half ended without many significant attempts but Gladbach look in relative control and displayed confidence. The start of the second half started much of the same and with the match appearing like it was headed to a scoreless draw, Ciprian Marica’s effort went off Roel Brouwers and into the net, giving VfB the lead with twenty-three minutes remaining. Forced to abandon his strategy, Hans Meyer called upon Oliver Neuville, Marco Marin and Roberto Colautti to find the needed goal but they could not summon the necessary strike. Mario Gómez added the second goal from close range with five minutes remaining and the match ended 2-0 in favour of VfB.
A good effort but one that still needs to be improved upon as we face 1899 Hoffenheim next week.
96 sends Königsblau home in tears
Die Roten started the Rückrunde right as they sent die Königsblau home in tears with a 1-0 victory. In front of a large crowd, 96 looked shakey at the start with Jefferson Farfán’s coming close to scoring after a few minutes and Fred Rutten’s club continuing to pour on the pressure. However after eight minutes 96 took the lead when Sergio Pinto sent a powerful drive into the net from twenty meters. A goal up early the visitors continued to roll forward looking to level the match but the key ingredient was that they were unable to break too deep into the box and 96 kept perfect shape and width under pressure. Halil Altıntop and Mannschaft capped Gerald Asamoah threatened before the break, yet with every turn our captain Robert Enke was there to draw the line! Proving he is ready for strong run he continued to deny die Königsblauen after the break and sent them home to Gelsenkirchen with a 1-0 defeat.
The man of the match was never in doubt; Robert Enke and it cannot be long till Joachim Löw notices.
Gracious in victory, the captain noted his defending support and that we are a unified club. There is a great deal of work to do but this was the start with needed.
Ich bin 96
The man of the match was never in doubt; Robert Enke and it cannot be long till Joachim Löw notices.
Gracious in victory, the captain noted his defending support and that we are a unified club. There is a great deal of work to do but this was the start with needed.
Ich bin 96
tough defending leads Köln to draw against Wolfsburg
For all the talk of Wolfsburg’s Champions League goals, Köln silenced their so-called scoring prowess with capable defending on the way to a 1-1 draw. The result was particularly pleasing as although Christoph Daum was hampered without Milivoje Novakovič, Pierre Wome and Pedro Geromel the overall play and discipline was top grade as Miso Brecko, Manasseh Ishiaku, Fabrice Ehret und Taner Yalcin moved into the starting eleven. Possibly most pleasing was the play of eighteen year old Taner Yalçın who was injected into the midfield and showed composure for his first match in the Bundesliga.
Geißböcke were looking to score early with Taner Yalcin and Petit linking up early for a threatening advance towards Manasseh Ishiaku being shut-down in the final stages by Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli. Following Marcel Schäfer’s attempt which was saved by Faryd Mondragon, Kevin Pezzoni sent a long ball to Sergiu Radu and the Romanian drove the ball into the net past Diego Benaglio with eleven minutes remaining in the half.
Urgent to find the leveling goal, Wolfsburg went forward first with Zvjezdan Misimović effort and then Faryd Mondragón stopped his Bosnian teammate Edin Džeko before the hour. However with seventeen minutes left, Grafite fired to the left corner of the net from twenty meters and the match was now tied 1-1. Without further incident, the match ended with a draw.
A good start to the Rückrunde and now we turn a important match against Eintracht Frankfurt!
Geißböcke were looking to score early with Taner Yalcin and Petit linking up early for a threatening advance towards Manasseh Ishiaku being shut-down in the final stages by Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli. Following Marcel Schäfer’s attempt which was saved by Faryd Mondragon, Kevin Pezzoni sent a long ball to Sergiu Radu and the Romanian drove the ball into the net past Diego Benaglio with eleven minutes remaining in the half.
Urgent to find the leveling goal, Wolfsburg went forward first with Zvjezdan Misimović effort and then Faryd Mondragón stopped his Bosnian teammate Edin Džeko before the hour. However with seventeen minutes left, Grafite fired to the left corner of the net from twenty meters and the match was now tied 1-1. Without further incident, the match ended with a draw.
A good start to the Rückrunde and now we turn a important match against Eintracht Frankfurt!
Berliners hold back Adler with Marko Pantelić scoring twice
Die Adler problems away from home continued with their fourth successive loss on the road as they lost 2-1 to the Berliners. The match marked the return of Alexander Meier and it was definitely a good start as he showed good attacking vision and linked up team play with precision. In addition Nikola Petković, who just came over from Crvena zvezda, marked his debut in the back line and by all accounts received good grades from Friedhelm Funkel.
However it was Petković’s fellow Serbian international Marko Pantelić who opened the scoring for the Berliners after seventeen minutes as got on the end of a rebound from Andriy Voronin’s attempt and sent the ball in. Markus Pröll was called for bringing down Pantelić in the area just past the half hour but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by stopping Cícero’s attempt. The match settled down after and a few minutes after the break Nikola Petković had the first significant effort by Frankfurt at Jaroslav Drobný but it didn’t find the netting. However the Marko Pantelić show continued as he went on the great run and pounded the ball in from twenty-two meters to make it 2-0. Benjamin Köhler brought a goal back only three minutes later as he was in the right place to send the rebound of Martin Fenin volley that went off the post, into the net. Die Adler injury problems continued at the fifty-eighth minute as Markus Pröll injured his knee and Jan Zimmermann was called on his first service of the year. The Berliners were no longer running the play of the match with Alexander Meier coming close on the hour and Léonard Kweuke threatening with twenty minutes left but each attempt fell in vain and the match ended 2-1. In conclusion it was a strong team effort and many things to be confident of, particularly the play of Alexander Meier and Nikola Petković.
Next week - Köln!
However it was Petković’s fellow Serbian international Marko Pantelić who opened the scoring for the Berliners after seventeen minutes as got on the end of a rebound from Andriy Voronin’s attempt and sent the ball in. Markus Pröll was called for bringing down Pantelić in the area just past the half hour but the goalkeeper redeemed himself by stopping Cícero’s attempt. The match settled down after and a few minutes after the break Nikola Petković had the first significant effort by Frankfurt at Jaroslav Drobný but it didn’t find the netting. However the Marko Pantelić show continued as he went on the great run and pounded the ball in from twenty-two meters to make it 2-0. Benjamin Köhler brought a goal back only three minutes later as he was in the right place to send the rebound of Martin Fenin volley that went off the post, into the net. Die Adler injury problems continued at the fifty-eighth minute as Markus Pröll injured his knee and Jan Zimmermann was called on his first service of the year. The Berliners were no longer running the play of the match with Alexander Meier coming close on the hour and Léonard Kweuke threatening with twenty minutes left but each attempt fell in vain and the match ended 2-1. In conclusion it was a strong team effort and many things to be confident of, particularly the play of Alexander Meier and Nikola Petković.
Next week - Köln!
too timid at Old Trafford
In the end, the scoreline was deceiving as Everton lost to Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Although only a one goal margin, Sir Alex Ferguson's side was in control of the match from the the start. While the Toffees displayed a high energy work rate defending it lacked the venom and confidence going forward that has been seen in prior matches. David Moyes pointed out after the match:
"The players have been terrific but today we dipped a bit below the energy levels we have shown in recent matches.
"I dont think we deserved to get anything out of it. Manchester United were the better side and our keeper played very well and made some great saves, but whilst it was 1-0 we were always in it and we could have nicked something."
Phil Jagielka may have put it more directly when he said:
“We’re a bit disappointed with our first half performance,” revealed Jagielka. “It was quite similar to the home game (against Man United).
“We maybe gave them too much respect.”
“We weren’t playing particularly well. We created a couple of half chances but we are a little bit disappointed because we put in a below par performance compared to our recent games.
From the start of the match, Man Utd went on the attack and rarely did Everton post a serious launch forward till after the break. However with each attempt the American goalkeeper Tim Howard proved up to the challenge and with it looking like the match was heading to the break Mark Halsey decided we were playing non-contact and decided pointed to the spot after Michael Carrick was nudged by Mikel Arteta. It was a sickening call in my opinion but then again I thought this was a sport of men. However that aside I wouldn't expect anything less at Old Trafford and Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the spot to give Man Utd the one goal advantage. After the break Everton tried to find the equalizing goal but it wasn't there and the match ended as it stood at the break, 1-0 in favour of the home side.
David Moyes added:
"I thought the penalty was a bit dubious but that's what happens when you come to big grounds with big crowds - they can do that. Lets hope our crowd do that on Wednesday night against Liverpool.
"When is there a good time to come to Man United? But We were in good form and confident. I'm not disappointed with how we went about it, I'm just disappointed we couldn't nick something from the game.
"I thought we got in a few times and I was disappointed we didn't make more of it buit credit to Leighton Baines for the positions he got into."
It was clear that the quality wasn't there as Man Utd deserved the points however the penalty call was light in my opinion. To Michael Carrick's credit he was man enough not to go the ground and there are few players to say that of.
"The players have been terrific but today we dipped a bit below the energy levels we have shown in recent matches.
"I dont think we deserved to get anything out of it. Manchester United were the better side and our keeper played very well and made some great saves, but whilst it was 1-0 we were always in it and we could have nicked something."
Phil Jagielka may have put it more directly when he said:
“We’re a bit disappointed with our first half performance,” revealed Jagielka. “It was quite similar to the home game (against Man United).
“We maybe gave them too much respect.”
“We weren’t playing particularly well. We created a couple of half chances but we are a little bit disappointed because we put in a below par performance compared to our recent games.
From the start of the match, Man Utd went on the attack and rarely did Everton post a serious launch forward till after the break. However with each attempt the American goalkeeper Tim Howard proved up to the challenge and with it looking like the match was heading to the break Mark Halsey decided we were playing non-contact and decided pointed to the spot after Michael Carrick was nudged by Mikel Arteta. It was a sickening call in my opinion but then again I thought this was a sport of men. However that aside I wouldn't expect anything less at Old Trafford and Cristiano Ronaldo converted from the spot to give Man Utd the one goal advantage. After the break Everton tried to find the equalizing goal but it wasn't there and the match ended as it stood at the break, 1-0 in favour of the home side.
David Moyes added:
"I thought the penalty was a bit dubious but that's what happens when you come to big grounds with big crowds - they can do that. Lets hope our crowd do that on Wednesday night against Liverpool.
"When is there a good time to come to Man United? But We were in good form and confident. I'm not disappointed with how we went about it, I'm just disappointed we couldn't nick something from the game.
"I thought we got in a few times and I was disappointed we didn't make more of it buit credit to Leighton Baines for the positions he got into."
It was clear that the quality wasn't there as Man Utd deserved the points however the penalty call was light in my opinion. To Michael Carrick's credit he was man enough not to go the ground and there are few players to say that of.
BVB holds back Leverkusen for draw
Jürgen Klopp's BVB played to a tough 1-1 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Westfalenstadion. Naturally the match opened in somber remembrance for the fan who fell to his death during the DFB Pokal, with players all wearing black armbands. With over 73,000 in support, die Schwarzgelben went forward missing Polish international Jakub Błaszczykowski, Mats Hummels, Tamás Hajnal, Sebastian Kehl and Dedê. Leverkusen started more on the attack with Patrick Helmes coming close at the sixth and fifteenth minute but each turned aside. After twenty minutes Alexander Frei looked to be brought down in the box by René Adler but the referee let the play move on. However BVB slowly gained more control and took the lead with Alexander Frei scoring six minutes past the half hour from close range after Patrick Owomoyela blocked the clearance effort. Leverkusen continued to attack and just past the hour Patrick Helmes equalized the match when he got on the end of Tranquillo Barnetta's cross. Patrick Owomoyela saved the lead when he cleared Barnetta's goal bound effort off the line a few minutes later. Leverkusen could have had the lead inside twenty minutes when Stefan Kießling provision to Tranquillo Barnetta was driven just centimeters over the bar. With ten minutes remaining Simon Rolfes missed from a few meters out to keep the match at its 1-1 final score.
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