It was supposed to be a perfect close to a great day - and it turned out that way. SV Werder beat FC Fulham 1-0 late Sunday afternoon as the first highlight of the season. A crowd of 20,021 at Weser Stadium saw Nils Petersen score the game winner in the 54th minute for the Green-Whites.

Just like head coach Robin Dutt had said before the match, the 11 players who have "nosed ahead" in preparations thus far were given the shot to start in the 4-2-3-1 system. And the guys went at it straight away as Zlatko Junuzovic tried just right of goal in the third minute and shot wide left. Aaron Hunt, who was named as Werder's player of the 2012-13 season, missed twice before Luca Caldirola's shot was deflected wide in the seventh minute.

The Werder fans thought a goal was coming after a quarter hour as Eljero Elia was all alone in the box after a Clemens Fritz cross but the Dutchman headed wide. The English Premier League side were hardly able to get out of their own half in the first 45 minutes and the score was 0-0 at the break.

It was Petersen's time in the 54th minute as the striker used a mistake by Fulham keeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who could not control a return pass. Petersen ran onto the ball and hit home from one yard out to make it 1-0 for the Green-Whites. Elia was close again just minutes later - though the fans would not get a celebration. Hunt blasted a shot from 11 yards and Stekelenburg blocked the ball into the middle where his Dutch compatriot Elia actually only had to push home but shot just inches wide.

The London club missed a great chance in the 62nd minute as Buomesca Tue Na Bangna was fed beautifully and ran alone onto Werder keeper Sebastian Mielitz but ‘Miele' made a great save. Hunt had an opportunity to double the lead three minutes later but could not convert, giving Werder a 1-0 victory.