18 September 2006, by Sean Gillen

Late strike gives Stuttgart win in five-goal thriller

Werder Bremen 2-3 Stuttgart

Stuttgart produced a magnificent comeback from 2-0 down to claim all three points at title contenders Werder Bremen. Goals from Roberto Hilbert, Pavel Pardo and Mario Gomez earned the away side a shock victory, after Bremen took an early lead.

The visitors arrived without captain Fernando Meira, and they certainly missed the Portuguese centre-back in the opening stages of the match, with Stuttgart looking disorganised at the back.

Bremen took advantage of their opponents weakened defence to take the lead after just four minutes when Thorsten Frings’ cross from the right was headed into his own net by Roberto Hilbert.

Stuttgart took time to settle from their early problems, but they soon began to create opportunities of their own. Striker Mario Gomez forced Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese into two stops before Brazilian midfielder Da Silva fired a free-kick over the bar.

Almeida kept quiet

Portuguese forward Hugo Almeida started for Breman, who were without star striker Miroslav Klose. Almeida had a quiet afternoon and generally struggled to make an impact on the game, and his header from another right-wing cross from Clemens Fritz in the 21st minute was as involved as the Porto-owned striker got in the first half.

Another former Dragao man, Brazilian midfielder Diego, then charged at the Stuttgart defence with the ball before unleashing a powerful shot, which was tipped over by Hildebrand.

The home side doubled their advantage when Mohamed Zidan got in behind the Stuttgart defence to latch on to a long throughball, and the Egyptian forward finished brilliantly, lifting the ball over the advancing Hildebrand.

Stuttgart crucially managed to pull back a goal just five minutes later, with Hilbert scoring at the right end after racing onto a pass and sliding the ball through Wiese’s legs.

Bremen started the second half with the intention of finishing the game as soon as possible, and after Wome shot wide, Diego went close again. More good work down the right saw Frings find the 21-year-old playmaker, who controlled well with his first touch before his rasping effort was tipped onto the bar by Hildebrand.

An unexpected equaliser for Stuttgart came when new signing, Mexican midfielder Pavel Pardo, hit a speculative shot from outside the box, and the ball struck Bremen midfielder Tim Borowski and looped over Wiese.

The visitors then began to take control of the match, and Bremen were quickly on the back foot. Serdar Tasci and Brazilian forward Cacau both headed wide, while Marco Streller drew a good save from Bremen keeper Wiese from a tight angle.

Champions League representatives Bremen had chances of their own, with Naldo stabbing the ball wide from a corner before Almeida chested the ball down for Zidan to lash the ball well off-target.

Stuttgart claimed all three points with only two minutes remaining with a rapid counter attack. A Bremen move was stopped when Diego was robbed of the ball and Pardo found Streller, who picked out Gomez in the middle and the striker held off Fritz to smash the ball home.

The result sees both sides on six points after four games in the Bundesliga. Next up for Stuttgart is a home clash with Frankfurt, while Bremen travel to fellow title contenders Hamburg, before meeting Barcelona in the Champions League.

Werder Bremen:
Wiese, Wome (Owomoyela, 80), Fritz, Pasanen (Hunt, 62), Naldo, Baumann, Borowski (Shulz, 75), Frings, Diego, Zidan, Almeida
Yellow Cards: Diego (42), Naldo (90)

Stuttgart:
Hildebrand, Delpierre, Boka, Osorio, Pardo, Tasci, Bierofka (Hitzlsperger, 60), Da Silva, Hilbert (Gentner, 72), Cacau (Streller, 76), Gomez
Yellow Cards: Bierofka (40), Da Silva (82), Streller (84)

Goals:
[1-0] Hilbert, 4 (o.g.)
[2-0] Zidan, 33
[2-1] Hilbert, 38
[2-2] Pardo, 57
[2-3] Gomez, 88