Schieber brace not enough for Berlin
Berlin - Hertha Berlin squandered a two-goal advantage as they were held to a 2-2 draw by SV Werder Bremen at the Olympiastadion.
Schieber at the double
Julian Schieber's two goals were not enough for the hosts with Assani Lukimya and Franco Di Santo levelling with two goals in as many second-half minutes.
Bremen coach Robin Dutt picked Lukimya and Luca Caldirola at the heart of his defence, perhaps unaware that the last time they played together – in December 2013 – Bremen ended up losing 3-2 to today's opponents. They fell behind on Berlin's first attack, too, Roy Beerens' cross headed in at the far post by Schieber with the aid of a slight deflection.
It was the former Borussia Dortmund forward's first goal for his new club, and his first since April 2013 – a drought of 18 games. The shackles seemed thus to have been shaken off Schieber and Berlin as the shots rained in – ten in the first half, more than in any opening 45 minutes last season.
It was not long before Schieber and Berlin had their second, Nico Schulz's cross looping over thanks to a deflection off Lukimya for the 25-year-old to tuck in from point-blank range. Bremen's response was exemplary, Lukimya making immediate amends by deflecting a free-kick in with his back, before Di Santo nodded in from a yard to earn the visitors an unlikely point.
