Werder Bremen were left frustrated after spurning a host of chances against Anorthosis Famagusta.
Sides share goalless draw in Germany
Werder Bremen were left frustrated after spurning a host of chances to share a goalless draw with Cypriot outfit Anorthosis Famagusta in Germany.
The home side dominated the game but could not find a way through against the first Cypriot team to compete in the UEFA Champions League.
The first chance of the Group B meeting came in the fourth minute when Markus Rosenberg had a header deflected wide and from the subsequent corner, Naldo also headed wide.
Rosenberg had a goal disallowed for offside on six minutes and Sergio Paulo Costa blasted over a minute later at the other end.
In the 15th minute, Claudio Pizarro almost broke the deadlock but put his close-range shot at the near post just wide.
Reaction
Pizarro then headed straight at the keeper Arjan Beqaj with a reaction header from close range on 23 minutes.
He should then have put the home side in front on 44 minutes when unmarked at the back post after a cross from the right but totally missed the ball and the sides went in level.
After the break, the visitors' Hawar Mohammed forced keeper Tim Wiese into a save at the near post before Pizarro missed with a back-heeled flick from close range in the 53rd minute.
Soon afterwards, Rosenberg thought he had scored with a looping shot but was given off-side and received a caution for remonstrating.
The home side then spurned a number of other chances as Famagusta, who are managed by former Newcastle midfielder Temuri Ketsbaia, held firm.
In the other Group B encounter, Inter Milan beat Panathinaikos 2-0 in Athens to go top of the table.
| Werder Bremen |
Team Statistics |
Anorthosis Famagusta |
| 0 |
Goals |
0 |
| 0 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
Shots on Target |
3 |
| 17 |
Shots off Target |
2 |
| 5 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 7 |
Corners |
1 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
2 |
| 4 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 85 |
Passing Success |
68.1 |
| 20 |
Tackles |
22 |
| 75 |
Tackles Success |
45.5 |
| 69.8 |
Possession |
30.2 |
| 63.9 |
Territorial Advantage |
36.1 |
|
