Di Santo stunner sees Bremen past Freiburg
Freiburg - A moment of individual brilliance from Franco Di Santo was enough to secure SV Werder Bremen another three points with a 1-0 win away to SC Freiburg.
Di Santo magic
The rejuvenated northern club were deserved winners overall, although they did not have things all their own way at the Schwarzwald-Stadion, where the hosts fought tooth and nail as they continue to battle against the drop.
The match began brightly with both teams looking to get forward at every opportunity, and it soon became an open, end-to-end encounter, although clear-cut chances were few and far between. Freiburg attacker Jonathan Schmid, playing in an unfamiliar role as a striker, went close just before the half-hour mark after latching on to a long ball, but his shot was saved by Raphael Wolf. Di Santo showed him how it is done shortly afterwards, controlling the ball on the left-hand edge of the penalty area, turning and hammering a wicked shot into the top-right corner to give the visitors a half-time lead.
Freiburg re-emerged for the second half with renewed vigour and pegged Bremen back into their own half for long spells. However, they lacked a cutting edge and struggled to play the crucial killer pass needed to unsettle a well-drilled visiting backline. Bremen might have put the game to bed when substitute Cedrick Makiadi found himself free in front of goal, but he couldn't bring the ball down quick enough and the chance was wasted. Nevertheless, Viktor Skripnik's charges succeeded in slowing the pace down and seeing the result over the line to keep them in touch with the European places.
Line-ups and statistics
