Two picture-perfect strikes pave the way to victory | OneFootball

Ducksch handed the Green-Whites the lead via a direct free-kick (Photo: WERDER.DE).

Match report following game away to Holstein Kiel

SV Werder Bremen marked their return to action after the international break with a win as the Green-Whites emerged 3-1 victors away to Holstein Kiel. In front of just over 15,000 in attendance, Marvin Ducksch (25’) and Felix Agu (59’) scored in some style before Marco Grüll added the finishing touch (90’+3).

Line-up and formation: Marco Friedl, Marvin Ducksch and Niklas Stark all returned to the starting line-up following injury while Mitchell made his comeback after suspension.

Starting line-up: Zetterer - Stark, Pieper, Stage, Ducksch, Weiser, Lynen, Burke, Schmid, Agu, Friedl

Subs: Backhaus - Jung, Silva, Bittencourt, Njinmah, Grüll, Köhn, Malatini, Topp

Ducksch lights up the opening period

The robust approach from the Storks suffers its consequences as the resulting free-kick is converted (Photo: W.DE).

First-half highlights:

5th minute: The game’s opening clear-cut chance fell the way of SVW. Ducksch latched onto the end of Burke’s pass but found Dähne in the way of his effort. The Scottish forward then narrowly missed the target on the rebound.

25th minute: Gooooal! Ducksch scores with a direct free-kick from wide on the left flank which looped over the defenders. Bernhardsson  tried to clear off the line but could do nothing to prevent the ball heading in off the inside of the post.

42nd minute: Kiel upped the pressure following a triple substitution. Machino fired over after being set up by Holtby; although, in actuality, he had been in an offside position.

Agu adds another stunner

Agu and Ducksch were having their own Goal of the Month competition (Photo: W.DE).

Second-half highlights:

59th minute: 2-0 to Werder! Ducksch is afforded too much time as he crosses from the right. Kiel are only able to clear the ball as far as Agu, who bends the ball into the top corner.

76th minute: The next swift transition sees Stage play in substitute Njinmah. However, the forward somewhat rushes his shot on his weaker left foot and flashes it wide.

81st minute: Njinmah so nearly seals the deal after dribbling into the danger area and letting fly again with his left, but sees his effort zip past the post.

88th minute: The Storks pass up their best chance to get back into the game as Machino turns the ball wide at the far post.

90th minute +3: SVW make sure of things with a rapid counter attack. Weiser slips in Grüll, who keeps his cool to slot home.

90th minute +6: Full time. Werder celebrate a deserved win away to Holstein Kiel. SVW host Eintracht Frankfurt for their Bundesliga matchday 28 clash in the prime time slot next Saturday, 5th April.

Summary: Werder began the more active of the two teams without creating too much in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Kiel’s triple change led to them having the better of the closing stages of the opening period. Kiel emerged from half-time intent on getting back into the contest, but Agu stopped them in their tracks with a superb second goal.

Match stats

Holstein Kiel: Dähne - Ivezic (36’ Holtby), Zec, Komenda - Rosenboom (36’ Becker), Remberg (61’ Pichler), Porath (77’ Arp) - Bernhardsson, Knudsen - Harres (36’ Machino), Skrzybski

SV Werder: Zetterer - Stark, Friedl, Pieper (89’ Jung) - Weiser, Lynen, Agu - Stage (85’ Bittencourt), Schmid (89’ Grüll) - Burke (73’ Njinmah), Ducksch (73’ Topp)

Goals: 0-1 Ducksch (25’), 0-2 Agu (59’), 0-3 Grüll (90’+3)

Referee: Sascha Stegemann

Attendance: 15,034 (sold-out)