NNew signing Oliver Burke saved Werder Bremen from a home defeat with a goal in added time. The striker scored in the 95th minute to make it 2-2 (1-1) against VfB Stuttgart. Previously it had looked as if the promoted team would pay dearly in the first home game after returning to the Bundesliga. Coach Ole Werner’s team took the lead in the fourth minute through Niclas Füllkrug. Wataru Endo (38th) and Silas (77th) turned the game around for the guests, who had already impressed in the 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig. Until Burke struck.
As on the first matchday in Wolfsburg, Werder started well and put pressure on from the start. In the fourth minute, the Bremen fans were able to celebrate for the first time in their first home game since May 2021. After a cross from Anthony Jung, Füllkrug headed the ball into the VfB goal. It was the second goal of the young season for the Bremen striker.
The Stuttgarters were impressed by Bremen’s initial swing. The Swabians were lucky that they weren’t too far behind early on. But Marvin Ducksch (8th) and Füllkrug, who only hit the crossbar (9th), missed possible further goals from Bremen. VfB was only able to free itself after half an hour. The hosts lost access in central midfield, which Endo used to equalize with a wonderful long-range shot.
Even after the change of sides, Werder couldn’t find the momentum they had in the early stages. Füllkrug and Ducksch, the successful duo from the strong second division season, could hardly put themselves in the limelight and were clearly shown the difference between the second and first division.
But the Swabians, who only escaped relegation in the final seconds of last season, initially hardly came up with any dangerous scenes in the second 45 minutes. Tiago Tomas failed in the 55th minute by the good Werder keeper Jiri Pavlenka – that was it for the guests. Until the 77th minute. Then VfB took advantage of a serious mistake made by Bremen’s defender Milos Veljkovic to take the lead. Silas kept his nerves in front of Pavlenka and thoughtfully pushed in.
Shortly afterwards, the VfB attacker could have made everything clear, but this time failed due to Pavlenka. So Bremen stayed in the game until the end and were rewarded for their effort by Burke.
