Werder Bremen managed to secure a late draw against Bayer Leverkusen in a Bundesliga match characterized by dramatic twists. After trailing for most of the game, Bremen’s Romano Schmid scored in the 90th minute to equalize at 2:2. Marvin Ducksch had earlier scored for Bremen, marking the return of their goal celebration foghorn after six months. Despite the draw, Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah expressed disappointment over losing two points. Both teams continue their competitive campaigns in the league.
Werder Bremen celebrated a home goal in the Bundesliga, but the foghorn’s tune echoed once more without leading to a victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday (26/10/2024).
In the dying moments of the game, Romano Schmid found the net for Werder Bremen, leveling the score to 2:2 (0:1) against Leverkusen in the 90th minute. Earlier, Marvin Ducksch had equalized for Werder in the 74th minute, marking the first home goal for the team in nearly six months.
‘We’re all glad that we heard it again today, Ducksch expressed in an interview, referring to the iconic foghorn. ‘I’m very confident we’ll be hearing it more frequently soon.’
Leverkusen’s goals came from Victor Boniface (30′) and an own goal by Felix Agu (78′). This match marked Leverkusen’s third draw out of eight games this season. ‘It hurts us a lot that we dropped two points here, stated Leverkusen’s defensive leader Jonathan Tah. ‘It feels like a defeat for us.’
Bayer Leverkusen currently holds 15 points, securing a position in the top third of the league table, while Bremen sits with twelve points, placing them in ninth, at least for now.
Missed Opportunities for Bremen’s Ducksch
The action began quickly, with Werder Bremen seizing their first opportunity less than a minute into the game. A pass from Romano Schmid set Marvin Ducksch up, but his shot from a tight angle was stopped by goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
Bremen dominated possession early on, creating several scoring chances. In the 14th minute, Mitchell Weiser delivered a stunning pass to Ducksch, who couldn’t capitalize due to a heavy touch, with his lob attempt easily caught by Hradecky.
Ducksch had yet another opportunity when he maneuvered into the penalty area and directed a shot toward the far corner, only to be met with another excellent save from Leverkusen’s keeper.
Leverkusen Takes the Lead
Leverkusen, known for their attacking flair, remained quiet until the 30th minute when a slide from Florian Wirtz to Jeremy Frimpong opened up a cross into the five-meter box. Boniface was quick on his feet, scoring before either teammate Julián Malatini or the defenders could react.
This singular shot on target for Leverkusen in the first half proved decisive, allowing them to head into halftime with the lead.
The second half saw Leverkusen start strong but fail to extend their advantage. Bremen’s goalkeeper Michael Zetterer made crucial saves against Wirtz and Martin Terrier in quick succession (53′) and also thwarted a long-range effort from Boniface (55′).
Ducksch and the Foghorn Moment
The match turned exhilarating as two goals emerged within four minutes. Werder celebrated when Malatini crossed to Ducksch, who redirected the header past Hradecky to equalize, resulting in the foghorn sounding for the first time that night.
However, the joy was short-lived, as Agu inadvertently scored an own goal in the 78th minute. Following a cross from Robert Andrich, Agu misjudged his clearance, sending the ball into his own net.
Near Misses for Leverkusen
In the closing moments, Leverkusen almost stretched their lead further when Wirtz struck the left post. Nonetheless, Werder found an equalizer in the 90th minute when Schmid hammered a shot in from just under the crossbar, ensuring the match ended level.
Interestingly, Schmid was the last player to score a home goal for Werder back in May until this Saturday.
Looking Ahead: Bremen and Leverkusen’s Next Matches
Next weekend, Werder Bremen will visit Gladbach (03.11., 17:30), while Leverkusen will host Stuttgart at the Bayarena (01.11., 20:30).