Werder Bremen 0, Hamburg 1:HAMBURG TOOK a significant step towards their first appearance in a European final since winning the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1983 with victory last night at the Weserstadion.
The diminutive Piotr Trochowski headed in the precious away goal midway through the first half to spoil Werder Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf’s 48th birthday and leave Hamburg in a commanding position ahead of the second leg next week.
Bremen, looking to win a Uefa Cup semi-final for the first time in four attempts, might even have lost by more were it not for the excellent Tim Wiese who twice saved from Ivica Olic with the striker through on goal.
It was the second of four meetings between these rivals in 19 days and they tore at each other from the outset.
In only the second minute Alex Silva’s neat touch on the edge of the area sent Ivica Olic clear, only for Wiese, Hamburg’s nemesis in Bremen’s German Cup victory last week, to brilliantly block the Croatian striker’s low shot.
WERDER BREMEN:Wiese, Fritz (Prodl 85), Mertesacker, Naldo, Boenisch, Tziolis, Frings, Diego, Ozil, Pizarro, Hugo Almeida (Rosenberg 61). Subs not used:Mielitz, Tosic, Baumann, Vranjes, Harnik. Booked: Tziolis.
HAMBURG:Rost, Demel, Gravgaard, Mathijsen, Aogo (Benjamin 79), Jarolim, Da Silva (Boateng 75), Pitroipa, Guerrero, Trochowski, Olic (Torun 90). Subs not used:Hesl, Choupo-Moting, Ndjeng, Rincon. Booked: Aogo, Da Silva, Guerrero.
Referee:Howard Webb (England
