Twente floor wasteful Werder
Reuters - Tuesday 02 November 2010, 23:10
BREMEN - Twente Enschede patiently
soaked up wave after wave of Werder Bremen attacks before
pouncing late in their Champions League game on Tuesday to win
2-0 and all but kill off the home team's hopes of advancing.
The Dutch league champions, who relied mainly on quick
breaks, had goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov to thank for a clean
sheet before going ahead after 81 minutes when Nacer Chadli's
shot was deflected in.
Luuk de Jong then made sure of victory when he stooped low
to head in a cross from Bryan Ruiz three minutes later.
"The players executed our tactical plan perfectly," Twente
coach Michel Preud'homme told reporters.
"We were also a bit lucky that Werder did not score but I am
delighted to have won."
Twente are third in Group A with five points from four
games. Bottom club Werder have two while Tottenham Hotspur and
Inter Milan lead the way on seven points apiece.
Werder, who had captain Torsten Frings sent off in the 75th
minute for bringing down dangerman Ruiz on the edge of the box,
squandered a dozen good opportunities and hit the post late in
the first half.
MANY CHANCES
"We had so many chances and we did not use them and after
Torsten was sent off we were hit on the break and suddenly it
was 2-0," said striker Claudio Pizarro.
"We gave it everything we had but if you do not score then
you cannot expect to win."
Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida missed three golden
opportunities, including a one-on-one with Mihaylov. Pizarro,
who hit the woodwork, also wasted a hatful of chances for the
hosts.
The Dutch made some quick breaks in the first half but
seemed to lose their spark in the second, their best chance
coming when Chadli rattled the post on the hour.
Chadli's goal, though, completely took the wind out of
Werder's sails and De Jong struck from close range to seal
Twente's first Champions League win in their debut season.