Double goalscorer Julian Brandt was happy after the final whistle. "Our fans are a step ahead singing about Berlin but we're not that far yet. We made a catastrophic start so that makes us even happier now." Coach Heiko Herrlich gave an insight into his emotions after 120 exciting minutes: "I'm happy. We suffered setbacks early on but then reorganised and fought our way back into the game. The team showed great morale and those are the best wins."
There were three changes to the side that started in the Bundesliga match at Freiburg: Skipper Lars Bender, Julian Brandt and Kevin Volland replaced Benny Henrichs, Karim Bellarabi and Lucas Alario in the starting eleven. Stefan Kießling, who played in the final against Werder Bremen in Berlin nine years ago, was back in the squad with Julian Baumgartlinger missing out due to illness.
two early blows
The match began in freezing temperatures and snowfall with an unfortunate double blow for the Werkself: After a challenge between Jonathan Tah and Max Kruse, the referee Marco Fritz awarded a penalty with Kruse converting the spot kick himself to give Bremen the lead on four minutes. At the other end, Leon Bailey headed the ball into the ground on the six-yard box and it appeared to be heading into the net in slow motion before the Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka tipped it over the bar – that chance to level came on five minutes. However, it was Werder who struck next: Kruse put Aron Johannsson through in a one-on-one with Leno and he lobbed the ball over the keeper into the net to make it 2-0 for the visitors on seven minutes.
The two goals certainly had an effect on the Werkself who took time to recover and it was Leno who kept out a Johannsson effort on eleven minutes to prevent conceding a third goal. Bayer 04 appeared to be on the ropes and it took time before they were able to find structure and security in their build-up play. A Tah header from a Bailey free kick on 21 minutes was easily saved by Pavlenka but at least it was an effort on target. Herrlich made tactical changes after the second goal, pushing Lars Bender further forward and playing with a back three. Once again, the Werkself showed they are a force to be reckoned with this term even in apparently lost causes. On the half-hour mark, Dominik Kohr broke clear from the halfway line after a one-two with Volland and he picked out Julian Brandt with a square ball and he slotted the ball into the net to make it 2-1 – Bayer 04 were back in the game.
fantastic save from Leno
Leno made sure it stayed that way: First, the Germany keeper, who was wearing short sleeves in spite of the cold conditions,kept a low drive from Florian Kainz from going in at the near post on 38 minutes and then he made a world-class save to frustrate the Austrian as he fired in a 30-yard shot that was heading for the top corner. The Werkself upped their game, pressed forward and were unlucky with a quick counter-attack through Kai Havertz and Volland that ended with the Bremen defender intercepting final square ball (42').
After the break, the hosts played towards their most loyal supporters in the North Stand. And the Black and Red support soon had a reason to celebrate once again: Brandt levelled at 2-2 on 55 minutes with a brilliant shot from the edge of the box with an assist from Lars Bender. By now it was an exciting encounter played from end to end without any tactical restrictions. There was great excitement on 72 minutes: Maximilian Eggestein brought Charles Aránguiz down in the box and it should have been a penalty but there was no decision from referee Fritz or the video assistants in Cologne.
Shortly after that,Kohr was just beaten to the ball in the six-yard box by Pavlenka on 74 minutes. Bayer 04 were now on the front foot but the skipper Lars Bender had to be replaced by Benny Henrichs five minutes later. With 85 minutes on the clock, Ludwig Augustinsson touched the ball with his upper arm in a challenge with Havertz in the penalty area but again no penalty was awarded. The two teams finished level on 90 minutes with the tie going into another half an hour of extra time.
Bailey hits the woodwork
Shortly after the start of extra time, Aránguiz went down and the Chilean had to have treatment but he carried on with gritted teeth. Lucas Alario replaced double goalscorer Brandt on 101 minutes. And the BayArena was on its toes when Bailey hit a free kick against the post a minute later – just inches away from goal number three. Then there was much excitement and a melee before the second period of extra time.
Bellarabi scores with first touch
Both teams were fighting to gain the upper hand with pure determination the main requirement. Herrlich made another attacking change bringing on Karim Bellarabi for Kohr on 108 minutes. It proved to be a master stroke by the coach: A free kick from Bailey was passed on perfectly by Alario for Bellarabi to score from a tight angle, making it 3-2 on 111 minutes – the stadium was rocking. Panos Retsos came on for Wendell (113') – and Bellarabi missed the chance to make it 4-2 in a one-on-one with Pavlenka on 115 minutes. However, the substitute soon made amends: Bellarabi provided a perfect assist for Havertz to calmly turn the ball into the net - 4-2 for the Werkself. Shortly after that it was pure celebration for the Black and Reds – and respect for an opponent on equal terms for much of the game as the Bayer 04 sporting manager Jonas Boldt embraced the Werder coach Florian Kohfeltd after the game to express his commiserations.
Bayer 04 are back in Bundesliga action on Saturday 10 February with a home game against Hertha Berlin on matchday 22. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 15.30 CET.
Match stats:
Bayer 04: Leno – L. Bender (Henrichs 79'), Tah, S. Bender, Wendell (Retsos 113') – Kohr (Bellarabi 108'), Aránguiz – Brandt (Alario 102'), Havertz, Bailey – Volland
Werder Bremen: Pavlenka – Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson – Delaney, M. Eggestein (Langkamp 113') – Johannsson (Rashica 46'), Junuzovic, Kainz (Belfodil 91') – Kruse
Goals: 0-1 Kruse (4', pen.), 0-2 Johannsson (7'), 1-2 Brandt (31'), 2-2 Brandt (55'), 3-2 Bellarabi (111'), 4-2 Havertz (118')
Referee: Marco Fritz (Korb)
Booked: Wendell, Kohr, Bailey – Gebre Selassie, Moisander, Augustinsson, Eggestein
Attendance: 25,653
