Wednesday's Champions League match reports (Reuters) Updated: 2005-11-03 08:43
Bremen, by far the top scorers in the Bundesliga, had managed just two goals
in three previous matches in the group after being let down by their strikers
time and again.
They finally managed to translate their domestic form to the European stage
on Wednesday, however.
KLOSE CONTROL
Klose worried the Udinese defence throughout and gave Bremen the advantage in
the 15th minute with a brilliant, twisting header from a Nelson Valdez cross.
Valdez, playing in place of Ivan Klasnic, went close with a well struck
volley from the edge of the area and the home side's positive start was rewarded
with a slice of luck for the second goal in the 24th minute.
Klose broke into the penalty area on the left and Udinese captain Valerio
Bertotto's clearance struck a Bremen player and broke nicely for Baumann to poke
in from close range.
Micoud flicked the ball onto the bar with a sweet strike before Udinese gave
their first warning, Vincenzo Iaquinta timing a forward run perfectly before
smacking a shot against the right-hand post.
Bremen stretched their lead thanks to another great cross from Valdez six
minutes after the break, as French midfielder Micoud outjumped the defence to
head past Morgan De Sanctis.
The German side could hardly believe what happened next as Di Natale, who
came on for Sulley Muntari in a tactical switch, turned the game on its head.
He first squeezed a shot under the body of Andreas Reinke to make it 3-1 and
produced a piece of cool finishing to convert a David Di Michele pass.
Schulz's desperate attempt to clear levelled the scores and showed just how
ragged Bremen nerves had become but they settled again quickly and moved back in
front with Micoud's second, swept in from a Torsten Frings corner.
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