No reward for FC effort! 1-3 in Bremen

In the only Sunday game on match day thirteen of the current Bundesliga season, 1. FC Köln crashed 1-3 (0-2) away to Werder Bremen. FC's only goal on the day was scored by striker Milvoje Novakovic in the 48th minute. The home side's goals were scored by Diego (pen 15'), Naldo (45') and Hugo Almeida (55'). The defeat sees FC Köln slip back into tenth place in the table.

Compared to the side that started in last week's win over Hannover, FC coach Christoph Daum made just one change, with Kevin McKenna making the starting eleven and Sergiu Radu having to settle for a place on the bench as FC prepared to take on a potent attacking force.

Determined beginning

Despite their seemingly more defensive strategy, the visitors frustrated Werder early on and even managed to break through the Bremen defence, but the offside flag was to foil Novakovic. A wild attempt to clear the danger by Naldo soon after created chaos in the home side's box, but somehow the defence got the ball away. FC looked strong and Werder somewhat confused, but all that was soon to change.

On the quarter hour mark, the referee spotted a push on Frank Baumann by Pierre Wome in the FC penalty area and awarded the home side a spot-kick, which Diego subsequently converted to open the scoring.

Second shock

It took Daum's men another quarter hour, and a couple of yellow cards, to settle after the set back but again they set up camp in the Werder half of the pitch. In the 38th minute, 'Nova' had a great chance to equalise as he took on a Vucicevic pass and headed goal-wards, but the advancing Green-Whites keeper, Tim Wiese, was out bravely to clear the danger. It was during a phase in which the visitors had their tales up that the home side doubled their lead. Naldo burst in from the edge of the box to out-spring Pedro Geromel and head home a Torsten Frings corner, making it 2-0 as the sides went into the break.

Nova hits back

The second period got off to just as turbulent a start as the first had, but this time with a more positive result for FC. 'Nova' took on a pass and left Per Mertesacker standing before coolly slotting home to give Köln reason for hope. The visitors went determinedly in search of an equaliser, but in the 55th minute, all went wrong. A Geromel clearance fell perfectly for Hugo Almeida, who let fly from all of 25 meters and left the ball nestling in the top left corner of Faryd Mondragon's goal - 3-1.

In the 66th minute, Christoph Daum threw on Wilifried Sanou and Sergiu Radu to support Novakovic up front. Not long after his introduction, the Romanian thought he should have had a penalty following a clash with Dusko Tosic but the referee was unimpressed and allowed play to continue. Very late on the substitute did put the ball in the net but the effort was cancelled out by the offside flag and FC's fate was sealed.

On the day, FC were left with nothing to show for a strong away performance over long periods.


Werder Bremen: Wiese - Prödl (46. Tosic), Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen - Baumann - Frings, Hunt (76. Vranjes) - Diego - Pizarro, Hugo Almeida (81. Rosenberg)

1. FC Köln: Mondragon - Brecko, Geromel, Mohamad, Wome - McKenna - Petit, Pezzoni (67. Sanou) - Vucicevic (67. Radu), Antar - Novakovic

Goals: 1:0 Diego (15.), 2:0 Naldo (45.), 2:1 Novakovic (48.), 3:1 Hugo Almeida (55.)

Attendance:  42.100 (ausverkauft)

Referee: Schmidt

Yellow Cards: Hunt/Antar, Brecko, Novakovic, Vucicevic