Stuttgart and Bremen share the points after entertaining draw
Stuttgart - An exciting first-half provided all the goals as VfB Stuttgart and SV Werder Bremen had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Maxim and Boka strive for a win
Stuttgart’s rise and rise under Thomas Schneider was set to continue early on here, as Martin Harnik scored the fastest goal by the Swabians since February with a back post volley after six minutes. Thereafter however, the home side dropped off the pace, four of their six shots in the first-half came within the first twelve minutes, and opportunities for Petersen highlighted the attacking danger posed by the visitors.
Stuttgart didn’t heed such warnings and a 37th-minute Bremen equaliser gave an even game the equal scoreline it deserved. Zlatko Junuzovic picked up the rebound from his own cross on the byline and fired a low ball backwards into the six-yard box, which was met athletically and converted by the late-arriving Petersen.
Stuttgart’s second-half began in same fashion as the first, with intense pressure. Alexandru Maxim and Vedad Ibisevic were as threatening as ever in front of the Bremen goal, but the visitors’ defence held firm. Santiago Garcia was ready and willing to power forward from left-back whenever possible, offering Bremen a much-needed outlet.
Garcia’s counterpart, Stuttgart left-back Arthur Boka came close twice in succession to deciding the game with long-range shots in the 61st and 66th minutes, just two of Stuttgart’s twenty attempts on goal. As the game petered out, so did both sides’ attacking drive, and despite Maxim and Boka’s best attempts, Bremen’s defensive discipline earned them a point.
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