Almeida strike saves Bremen in Greece
Reuters - Wednesday 22 October 2008, 21:59
ATHENS - A late goal from Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida secured Werder Bremen a 2-2 draw in their Champions League Group B match against Panathinaikos at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Almeida struck seven minutes from time to earn a point after the German side had fallen behind after taking the lead.
Bremen, who also drew with Inter Milan and Anorthosis Famagusta in their opening two games, went ahead in the 29th minute against the run of play when defender Per Mertesacker got behind the defence to slip the ball past keeper Alexandros Tzorvas.
Vangelis Mantzios levelled seven minutes later when he sent a looping header over Werder keeper Christian Vander. Mantzios then added a second in the 68th minute but Almeida's strike left the Greek team still looking for their first win and struggling to qualify for the latter stages of the competition.
Inter lead on seven points, ahead of Anorthosis on four, Bremen on three and Panathinaikos with one.
"We are very disappointed. Today was a day with very bad luck for us," said Panathinaikos coach Henk Ten Cate.
"Everybody could see we were the better team and deserved to win. But maybe our luck will change now. I think five points will be enough to qualify for the UEFA Cup and seven for the Champions League. We still have nine points to play for so it is up to us to do it."
The home side dominated the first half and Giorgos Karagounis forced two superb saves from Vander, brought into the side in place of the injured Tim Wiese.
There was a hint of handball about the way Mertesacker collected the ball in the Panathinaikos area in the lead up to the opening goal, but there was no doubt about the way he slipped it past Tzorvas.
Mantzios, who scored against Bremen in Athens three years ago, produced a fine looping header to equalise and another one in the second half from the edge of the area after Loukas Vintra had a header cleared off the line.
Dimitris Salpigidis then hit the bar with a fierce shot before Almeida lost his marker to head home the equaliser.
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