brilliant bremen outclass metalurh published: thursday 3 october 2002, 21.07cet sv werder bremen 8-0 fc metalurh donetsk (agg: 10-2) johan micoud inspires germans to easy win.
sv werder bremen turned on the style to overcome the challenge of fc metalurh donetsk in their uefa cup first round second-leg match at the weserstadion to advance to tuesday's second round draw.
strong start the german side, in second place in the early 1. bundesliga rankings, seemed keen to atone for surrendering a two-goal lead in the first leg and started positively. their early endeavours were rewarded after just 15 minutes. metalurh failed to deal with ailton’s corner, with the ball reaching the unattended frank verlaat at the far post, and the dutch defender cushioned the ball into the empty net.
virt in action the brazilian ailton almost doubled the advantage after 28 minutes when he pounced on a poor back pass, but was unable to get sufficient power on his shot from an acute angle, allowing yuriy virt to pull off a fine save. as bremen continued to carry the greater threat throughout the opening half, virt had to deny tim borowski and ailton, while krisztián lisztes fired a fine shot narrowly over after 35 minutes.
french flair the home side doubled their lead after 43 minutes with a sublime goal. a fine one-touch passing move ended with french international midfield player johan micoud executing the deftest of chips over the stranded virt. seconds later, virt spilled borowski’s 25-metre shot but atoned to this time deny micoud as he seized on the rebound. however, the respite was brief, with bremen going three up on the stroke of half-time with borowski heading in.
micoud magic if micoud’s opening goal was sublime, his second after 47 minutes was simply stunning. a 50-metre pass released ailton on the right flank. he checked close to the corner, beat his man, and picked out micoud’s run just inside the penalty area, and the former parma ac playmaker met his cross with a brilliant volley that left virt with no chance.
goal rush angelos charisteas made it 5-0 three minutes later, as he toe-poked home from borowski’s through ball. with the ukrainians dispirited, werder added another after 66 minutes when substitute ivan klasnic finished off a fine move. borowski added his second in the 77th minute, with a lob that matched micoud's in its ambition and execution. klasnic then completed the scoring in the final minute as bremen's excellent start to the season continued.
