SV Werder Bremen are through to the second round of the DFB-Pokal after a 3-1 win at FC Energie Cottbus. A hat-trick from Keke Topp (32', 37', 55') sealed the Green-White's progression in front of 20,524 fans at the LEAG Energie Stadion. Former Werder player Henry Rorig was able to get one back for the hosts (70').
Line-up and formation: Head coach Ole Werner made one change to his side following their final pre-season friendly against Stade Rennais (1-0 loss). Keke Topp replaced Marco Grüll in attack, lining up alongside Marvin Ducksch.
Werder's starting line-up: Zetterer - Stark, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Veljkovic, Lynen, Schmid, Agu, Friedl, Topp
Bench: Backhaus - Deman, Jung, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Grüll, Hansen-Aarøen, Malatini, Alvero
First-half highlights:
4th minute: SVW look to put their opponents under pressure right from the start. First. Topp has a shot blocked by Campulka. Ducksch is able to chip the ball into the box where it finds Agu, whose shot is pushed over the bar by Bethke.
16th minute: What a chance for Ducksch! Werder's number 7 is through on goal, but is unable to beat Bethke one-v-one.
23rd minute: Another chance goes begging for the Green-Whites. Schmid cuts the ball back to Ducksch, but he's unable to connect cleanly with the ball. It travels across the face of goal to Stage at the back post, but he strikes it high and wide from close range.
32nd minute: There's the opener! Schmid plays a pass to Topp, catching Campulka unaware. The Werder striker finds himself with enough time and space to bury a shot in the back of the net.
37th minute: Topp nets his second of the night! Once again it's Campulka who comes up short against the Werder youngster, who keeps his cool to slot the ball past Bethke to make it 2-0.
45th minute +1: Despite being wasteful with their chances at the start of the match, the Green-Whites go into the break with the lead thanks to Topp.
Second-half highlights:
47th minute: Rorig looks to place a free kick on target, but Zetterer is there to punch it away. Cottbus are able to keep possession, with Cigerci nearly managing to place a header on goal before being blocked.
55th minute: It's a hat-trick for Topp! Cottbus are unable to clear their lines after a corner, allowing Ducksch to deliver a cross to the far post. Topp is waiting to tap home his – and Werder's – third goal of the night.
70th minute: The hosts get one back, as Rorig places his free-kick into the top left corner, out of reach for Zetterer.
76th minute: Werder nearly put the game to bed! Bittencourt finds Njimmah with a long ball, who then looks to square it for Ducksch. A Cottbus defender is able to intercept it.
78th minute: Red card for Cottbus! Hajrulla is shown a straight red by the referee after sliding studs first into Zetterer.
86th minute: Bittencourt comes within inches of adding a fourth for the visitors, but is denied from close range by Bethke. The attacker had been able to get on the end of a cross from Ducksch, but sent his shot straight into the goalkeeper.
90th minute +: The full time whistle goes! SV Werder are through to the next round of the DFB-Pokal after a 3-1 win in Cottbus.
Summary: SV Werder dominated proceedings from the start, although they let several chances go begging in the opening half an hour. Keke Topp then broke the deadlock and soon added a second, putting the Green-Whites on course for victory. The youngster would complete his hat-trick after the break, putting the game out of reach for the hosts, who later were reduced to 10 men.
Energie Cottbus: Bethke - Rorig, Kusic, Campulka (46' Pelivan), Hasse - Juckel (86' Borgmann), Putze (46' Slamar) - Cigerci, Pronichev (64' Hajrulla), Halbauer (64' Krauß)
SV Werder: Zetterer - Stark (60' Jung), Friedl, Veljkovic - Weiser, Lynen, Agu (71' Deman) - Schmid, Stage (71' Bittencourt) - Ducksch (87' Ducksch), Topp (60' Njinmah)
Goals: 0-1 Topp (32'), 0-2 Topp (37'), 0-3 Topp (55'), 1-3 Rorig (70')
Red card: Hajrulla (78', dangerous play)
Referee: Harms Osmers
Attendance: 20,524 (sold out)
