Werder Bremen 0 Panathinaikos 3
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
Panathinaikos produced an away display to remember as they struck three times after half-time to clinch a Champions League Group B victory against Werder Bremen.
Henk ten Cate’s side were irresistible after the break to breathe new life into their own campaign after they had managed just a single point before Tuesday night’s match.
Vangelis Mantzios, who scored twice when the two teams drew 2-2 a fortnight ago, got the ball rolling with a goal after 58 minutes.
Pana captain Giorgos Karagounis then put the visitors two goals ahead after 70 minutes with a thunderous first-time strike from the edge of the area and Bremen’s humiliation was complete seven minutes from time when Alexis Tziolis netted.
Pana now find themselves just a point behind second-place Anorthosis Famagusta, while Bremen, who are without a win in four games, are languishing at the foot of the table with three points.
The away side started the better with Karagounis at the heart of their best forward moves.
The free-kick expert quickly found his range from a dead-ball situation, forcing Tim Wiese into action with a save after three minutes.
At the other end Diego also gave warning of his threat with a quick turn a shot from the edge of the area that slid past the right-hand post.
From there the visitors settled the better with Karagounis pulling the strings from midfield.
The Greece midfielder almost gave his side the lead with an audacious 35-yard free-kick that hit the underside of the crossbar after catching Wiese too far off his line.
The Bremen goalkeeper was forced into a hasty retreat to try and get a hand to the lofted shot, but unable to do so he was relieved when the ball bounced down of the crossbar. The danger was not, however, completely over as the rebound fell to Mantzios, but his weak header allowed Wiese time to get to his feet and collect.
Bremen’s best chance of the opening period also came from a free-kick when Claudio Pizarro’s deflected header, from Diego’s arrowed shot, produced a fine diving save from Mario Galinovic.
Pana had deserved to go into half-time on level terms and they upped their game further after the break with Karagounis shooting narrowly wide.
The away side got the goal they deserved after 58 minutes following a neat piece of skill from Mantzios.
The 25-year-old striker received a pass from Tziolis at the top of the area before some deft footwork enabled him to completely lose his marker and slide the ball in at the right-hand post.
Bremen showed little sign after going behind that they could find an equaliser and their hopes completely evaporated when Karagounis smashed in a stunning first-time shot from the edge of the area.
The veteran midfielder made space for himself from a throw before unleashing an unstoppable strike that flew across Wiese and into the far post.
Bremen now looked a deflated outfit and they suffered further misery with seven minutes remaining when Tziolis’s shot from just inside the area was helped in with the aid of a defender.
Pana could have even had a fourth when Gilberto Silva rounded Wiese, but he took too long to shoot allowing Per Mertesacker time to clear.
Tags: alexis, champions league group, claudio pizarro, crossbar, famagusta, fortnight, four games, free kick, goalkeeper, hasty retreat, henk ten cate, humiliation, midfielder, pulling the strings, single point, three minutes, tim wiese, time strike, vangelis, werder bremen