Berlin, Aug 22 (IANS): Werder Bremen's Anthony Ujah cancelled out Valentin Stocker's opener to secure the visitors a 1-1 draw on the road at the opener of the Bundesliga's second round.
Berlin started with an early lead into the game, thanks to the opener by Valentin Stocker, before Anthony Ujah restored parity against the run of the game. Bremen had two golden chances to grab the win but the post and bar denied the visitors the lead in the closing period on Friday, reports Xinhua.
The hosts were on the hunt to set a new club record with two straight victories into the new season. Hertha Berlin did their best and caught a fairy-tale start in front of 56,376 spectators in the Olympia stadium, as midfielder Valentin Stocker utilised a blocked shot at the edge of the penalty box to break the deadlock with a left-footed hammer at the 6th minute.
Bremen was shocked and unable to respond whereas Hertha Berlin gained momentum to set the visitors under pressure. However, Berlin dominance were suddenly halted at the 26th minute when Anthony Ujah tapped in a long cross to the far post by Ulisees Garcia, leveling the scores out of the blue.
After the restart, Hertha's Valentin Stocker had a few promising chances to wrap up his brace, nevertheless, it were the visitors who worked out the best opportunities in the closing period as Berlin's Sebastian Langkamp nearly headed an own goal which was denied by the bar before Bremen's Jannik Vestergaard nodded the ball to the left post moments later.
With the result, Berlin squandered their second win in as many games, which would have been a new starting record while Bremen reaped their first points of the season.