Wiese sends Bremen into final
Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese saved three penalties against hosts Hamburg on Wednesday night to send his team through to the German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen. Wiese kept out three of four Hamburg penalties following a 1-1 draw after...
Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese saved three penalties against hosts Hamburg on Wednesday night to send his team through to the German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Wiese kept out three of four Hamburg penalties following a 1-1 draw after extra-time to silence a 56,000 crowd in the Nordbank Arena. Werder scored all three of their spot-kicks.
Per Mertesacker had put Bremen ahead early in the first half before Ivica Olic levelled in the 67th minute. Hamburg, still in the title hunt, will play bitter rivals Bremen another three times in the coming weeks for a place in the UEFA Cup final and in the league title race.
"In cup matches we always have a clear aim. The team really puts in their best performance in these matches," Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said, who can now still hope of competing in Europe next season after a disappointing Bundesliga season.
Hamburg played extra-time with ten men after captain David Jarolim was sent off for a foul on Mesut Ozil in stoppage time.
Joris Mathijsen scored the first penalty for Hamburg before Wiese made three stunning saves from Jerome Boateng, Olic and Marcell Jansen.
Claudio Pizarro, Ozil and Torsten Frings converted theirs for Bremen.
Leverkusen beat second division Mainz 4-1 after extra-time on Tuesday to advance to the final to be held in Berlin's Olympic stadium on May 30.