Not even Mohamed Zidans late goal could help Werders ploy. The Green-Whites suffered their first defeat in the 2005/2006 pre-season programme. After three canter wins over lower class clubs Bornreihe, Niederkassel and Meppen, Thomas schaafs side went down 2:1 at the hands of second division team FC Energie Cottbus.

Werder never really managed to inspire as they started once again without the injured Miroslav Klose and rested the three Confed-Cup participants Patrick Owomoyela, Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski much to the dismay of the travelling fans. The second division side proved determined and willing while Werder appeared tired, unconcentrated and lacking ideas.

First chances for Hunk and Klasnic

In the first half there were a number of chances to report. Aaron Hunts shot was denied by Cottbus keeper Tomislav Piplica after a through pass from Johan Micoud (10'). A second pass from Micoud could have caused danger but Ivan Klasnic and substitute Marco Stier, who came early for Daniel Jensen who was suffering from muscular problems, managed to hinder one another challenging for the same ball (20'). Just on half time Hunt was just a whisker away from converting a Stier ball across the box. The tie was poised at 0:0 at half-time with Cottbus also failing to make use of their chances, the best one falling to André Gunkel who cracked a distance shot against the crossbar.

Thomas Schaaf made five changes during the break including replacing Micoud with Nelson Valdez. The Paraguayan took up the strikers position with Aaron Hunt retreating into the midfield. Still Werder failed to find their way and found themselves trailing in the 48th minute. Two clever Cottbus passes cancelled out the Werder midfield leaving Youssef Mokhtari with only sub keeper Tim Wiese to beat which he did in style, sliding the ball under the body of the advancing keeper. Not yet satisfied, Cottbus' playmaker struck again fifteen minutes later after a cross from the left was nodded into his path by Sergiu Radu and he rounded Frank Baumann and again beat Tim Wiese to make it 2:0 for the home side.

Piplica keeps Werder at bay

A now more determined Werder side were still unable to turn the game despite their efforts. The few chances which the Green-Whites did manage to create were all too often foiled by Tomislav Piplica in the Cottbus goal who was in top form on the night. The Bosnian keeper denied Nelson Valdez with his foot (75') before flying to keep out a Marco Stier drive (82') and then frustrating Mohamed Zidan from the resulting corner.

By the time Werder did get their goal, Piplica had made way to tremendous applause for reserve keeper André Thomas. Nelson Valdez got on the end of a fine pass by Pekka Lagerbloom, and the Paraguayan passed selflessly to the onrushing Zidan who slid the ball home (87'). The strike was to prove too little too late with referee Harald Sather from Grimma not allowing for any added time ending what was a deserved win for Cottbus. After the game Werder made their way to Schruns, Austria for their second trainings camp where an abundance of hard work awaits them.

Johnnie Muldoon

Werder Bremen: Reinke (46' Wiese) - Davala (46' Pasanen), Fahrenhorst, Andreasen, van Damme (62' Schulz) - Vranjes (46' Lagerbloom), Baumann - D.Jensen (14' Stier), Micoud (46' Valdez) - Hunt, Klasnic (62'Zidan)

FC Energie Cottbus: Piplica (86' Thomas) - Schöckel, Hysky, Berhalter (76' Bandrowski), Sidney - Gunkel, Mokhtari, Rost - Dworrak (80' Schuppan), Radu (71' Jungnickel), Aidoo (71' Sahin)

Goals: 1:0 (48') Mokhtari, 2:0 (63') Mokhtari, 2:1 (87') Zidan

Referee: Harald Sather (Grimma)

Attendance: 6,200