What looked like a sure three pointer for Werder was stolen away from them in added time by Hertha BSC Berlin after substitute Angelos Charisteas had put the German champions in front. Alexander Madlung headed a Marcelinho corner unstoppably past Andi Reinke and cheated Werder out of a deserved away win. 1:1 was the final score, the points shared in a game that the Green-Whites could and should have won.

Trainer Thomas Schaaf had made only won change in the team that won so emphatically 5:1 against RSC Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday with the recuperated Tim Borowski replaceing the in the Bundesliga suspended ludovic Magnin in the starting eleven.

Both teams seemed to show a great deal of respect for each other and tended to concentrate on possessional play. The game was for long periods contested between both boxes and chances were few and far between and referee Albrecht was forced to repeatedly stop the flow of the game because of the number of niggly fouls from both sides.

A stop-start game with many mistakes

Werder were the stronger team in the first half hour with possessional and territorial advantages but failed to make use of that and it was the Berliners who had their best chance in the 28th minute. Marcelinho curled a free-kick into the area, with his strong left foot, overshooting friend and foe and bent just outside the post. It took Werder until the 38th minute to worry the hosts with Johan Micoud cracking a shot from 20 meters but failing to hit the target.

Not much change for the supporters in the Berlin Olympia stadium after the break with a high quota of individual mistakes on both sides with much falling to pure chance, and so Hertha came to their next opening on the hour. The ball broke free to Marcelinho after a quick counter from Nico Kovac and Gilberto but the Brazilian was too hectic and slammed the ball over the crossbar. Six minutes later Nando Rafael had his shot from the edge of the box turned away by Andi Reinke.

Charisteas puts the champs in front

Werder once again had the bulk of the ball in the second half but failed to really threaten Hertha. Thomas Schaaf was forced to make changes and introduced Valdez for Klose (61') and Charisteas for Klasnic (71') and this change was to make a difference. The ref blew for a free-kick after Nico Kovac fouled the Greek Euro2004 winner. Johan Micoud sliced the free-kick from the right and Charisteas was quicker to the ball than marker Bobic and slammed the ball past Fiedler to put Werder in front (80'). The Green-Whites now got men behind the ball and waited in hope of another fast break. One such attack could have decided the match for Werder when Micoud fed Ümit Davala on the right. The Turk spotted Tim Borowskis run in the middle and crossed but 'Boro' didn't take his chance (86').

Then the worst case scenario unfolded. As the majority of the fans prepared for a home defeat, Marcelinho swung in a corner in added time were Alexander Madlung rose highest and headed past Reinke to level the tie.

It was a flattering point for the Berliners who had had the better of the chances but also the most mistakes. Werder only had themselves to blame for not adding to their lead.

Johnnie Muldoon