Every Werkself fan looking at the starting eleven would surely have had a smile on their face: After four months out injured, Karim Bellarabi celebrated his comeback and looked "as if he'd never been away" as coach Roger Schmidt said after the match. The Werkself were straight out of the blocks from the kick-off. The first chance fell to Kevin Kampl on seven minutes but the Mineiro keeper Uilson was able to make the save. Leverkusen continued to make chances after that with the best coming just before the half-time break.
First of all, the happy as a sand boy Julian Brandt robbed the Brazilian defence of the ball but was unable to convert from a tight angle on 44 minutes. Seconds later, Hakan Calhanoglu took a free kick and curled it onto the bar. "We are playing really well and dominating the game. If we carry on like this then we’re in with a good chance of winning," said the injured captain Lars Bender during the break.
Chicharito scores
Schmidt made five changes at half-time but that did not affect the flow of the Werkself game. Everything continued to go in one direction. And that was finally rewarded on 52 minutes: Calhanoglu crossed into the box and Chicharito was in the right spot to head home from close range. 1-0 for the Werkself and the starting shot for a big Chicha party at the ESPN World Wide of Sports that once again attracted a large number of Mexican fans.
Until he was substituted, the Mexico striker was greeted with huge applause every time he touched the ball. His strike partner Joel Pohjanpalo then had a chance to double the lead but his clipped left foot shot was saved by Uilson. In the closing stages of the game the youngsters Lukas Boeder, Sam Schreck, who scored the goal in the 1-1 draw in the first match against Estudiantes de La Plata, and Atakan Akkaynak were given time on the pitch. The game ended with a deserved 1-0 win. "We’re on the right track," said Ömer Toprak after full-time: "This match proves that."
The result means Bayer 04 have earned five out of a possible six points at the Florida Cup. Schmidt's team head the table after the 5-3 win against Estudiantes and the 1-0 victory against Mineiro.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Leno – Henrichs (da Costa 60,) Dragovic (Jedvaj 46’), Tah (Toprak 46’), Wendell – Kampl (Yurchenko 60’), Aránguiz (Baumgartlinger 46’) – Bellarabi (Havertz 46’, Akkaynak 87’), Calhanoglu (Pohjanpalo 60’) – Brandt (Mehmedi 46’), Chicharito (Schreck 74’).
Goal: 1-0 Chicharito (52’)
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