Werder Bremen needed a long-range blast from Daniel Jensen 4 minutes from time to seal a 2-1 triumph over Dinamo Zagreb at the Weserstadion in the 1st leg of their Champions League 3rd round qualifier Wednesday.
Bosko Balaban had given the Croatian champions a deserved lead at the end of the 1st half, touching in from 6 metres to convert Mario Mandzukic's ball in from the right.
That acted as a spur for the Germans, who came out with a new attitude at the start of the 2nd half.
Substitute Hugo Almeida struck the equaliser almost immediately when he raced through and scored on the rebound, after the keeper had blocked his 1st effort.
The visitors had a lot of chances to go ahead themselves before a thumping late effort from Danish international Jensen gave Werder a slim advantage to take to the away leg on August 29.
08 08 2007
Schalke midfielder Ivan Rakitic is the only new face in the Croatia team named by coach Slaven Bilic Wednesday for the friendly against Bosnia in Sarajevo on August 22.
