Hamburg in driving seat against Bremen

01 May,2009 08:37 AM IST |   |  AFP

Germany winger Piotr Trochowski drew first blood for Hamburg in the first-leg of the all-German UEFA Cup semi-final as his winning goal sealed a 1-0 win at Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen last night.


Germany winger Piotr Trochowski drew first blood for Hamburg in the first-leg of the all-German UEFA Cup semi-final as his winning goal sealed a 1-0 win at Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen last night.

This was the second of four derbies between the north Germany neighbours who have met each other in the German Cup last week, play twice in consecutive weeks in the UEFA Cup before meeting again in the Bundesliga on May 10.

It was sweet revenge for visitors Hamburg after their German Cup semi-final heart-break the previous week at the hands of Bremen.

Goalkeeper Tim Wiese had been Werder's hero the week before when his three consecutive saves in the penalty shoot-out at Hamburg knocked the hosts out of the German Cup.

Hamburg went ahead here when midfielder Guy Demel crossed the ball in from the right and Trochowski headed home from close-range giving Wiese no chance on 28 minutes. It was 1-0 to the guests at half-time and Hamburg's Bayern Munich-bound striker Ivica Olic had the chance to put his side further ahead when he broke into acres of space just after the hour mark, but fired straight at Wiese.

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UEFA Cup Hamburg Bremen Piotr Trochowski