The cup journey continues! SV Werder Bremen advanced to the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal with a 1-0 win against SV Darmstadt 98 on Tuesday evening at the Weserstadion. With the two sides deadlocked until late into second-half injury time, it seemed as though there would be no avoiding extra-time or even penalties. Until, that is, Anthony Jung turned in a free kick from Marvin Ducksch late on to seal the win for the Green-Whites.
Line-up and formation: Head coach Ole Werner made two changes to his starting line-up, as Jens Stage made his first start since recovering from a neck problem. Marco Grüll was also named to the starting XI, with Leonardo Bittencourt and Justin Njinmah dropping to the bench.
Starting line-up: Zetterer - Stark, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Veljkovic, Lynen, Grüll, Köhn, Schmid und Friedl.
Bench: Backhaus - Deman, Jung, Pieper, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Burke, Malatini und Alvero.
First-half highlights:
7th minute: Ducksch's free kick is initially cleared, but Friedl is able to regain possession. The captain then looks to send a shot on target, but it's caught by Schuhen.
16th minute: Darmstadt find their way in the Werder penalty box, but Lidberg is unable to connect fully with the ball.
26th minute: Köhn delivers a cross into the box from the left-hand side, with Weiser just missing getting on the end of it. Stage looks to send the ball back into the middle from the right side, but the ball bounces off his leg and out for a goal kick.
39th minute: The closest Werder have come this evening! Stage takes aim from around 18 metres out, but his shot just misses the top corner.
45th minute +4: Despite enjoying the better chances in the first half, Werder head into the dressing room still deadlocked.
Second-half highlights:
47th minute: Grüll delivers a cross into the centre of the box, which Ducksch takes first time. Schuhen reacts quickly to parry his effort, with Schmid's rebound also being saved.
71st minute: Schmid lays the ball to Ducksch inside the box, who again takes aim with a low shot. Maglica throws himself in front of the ball to block it, sending it out for a corner.
75th minute: Ducksch heads the ball towards goal, as it appears to hit Vukotic's outstretched arm. The VAR declines to review the incident, as the referee's initial call stands.
85th minute: Werder manage to find their way into the penalty box once again, as Weiser lays the ball off to Bittencourt with a back-heel. His shot is also blocked, however.
90th minute +4: GOAL FOR WERDER! Ducksch delivers a free kick into the box where Anthony Jung is able to turn it in from close range to put Werder ahead late on!
90th minute +7: Full time! Werder are through to the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal.
Summary: Darmstadt allowed Werder to dominate possession, preferring to sit back and defend. The Green-Whites struggled, however, to create good chances for themselves and to make the most of this dominance. This continued in the second half as well, before the Green-Whites upped the pressure on their opponents in the closing minutes. They were then able to net the winner through Jung with virtually the last kick of the game.
SV Werder: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl, Veljkovic (14' Jung) - Weiser, Lynen, Köhn (90'+4 Deman) - Stage (70' Bittencourt), Schmid - Grüll (70' Njinmah), Ducksch
Darmstadt 98: Schuhen - López, Maglica (82' Bueno), Lidberg, Marseiler (62' Lakenmacher), Nürnberger, Müller (82' Papela), Klefisch, Vukotic, Corredor, Riedel
Yellow cards: Stark (22'), Zetterer (35'), Maglica (36'), Weiser (55'), Ducksch (73'), Bueno (90'+4)
Goals: 1-0 Jung (90'+4)
Referee: Martin Petersen
Spectators: 40,000 (sold-out)
