Match reviews

Werder Bremen 5-4 Hoffenheim

Werder Bremen scored five goals for the second successive time in the Bundesliga as they won a nine goal thriller against Hoffenheim at the Weserstadion. After beating Bayern 5-2 last time around, Bremen seemed to be in a destructive mood as they went 4-1 up after just half an hour. Teenage sensation Mezut Ozil opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but Demba Ba equalised seven minutes later for the visitors. Claudio Pizarro (16′), Diego (21′) and Aaron Hunt (30′) put the hosts 4-1 up in no time at all, as Hoffenheim were left gasping for breath. To their credit, they hit back with a Sejad Salihovic free kick in the 36th minute, and the score read 4-2 to Bremen going into the interval.

Germany 08-09 away jersey

On the hour mark, Brazilian Diego fouled Tobias Weis in the Bremen box, and Vedad Ibisevic scored from the resulting spotkick, bringing Hoffenheim one goal closer. A minute later, Bremen had Per Mertesacker sent off, thus reducing the home side to ten men.

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Macedonia 1-0 Scotland 2010 World Cup qualifier

Ilco Naumoski scored the only goal of the game as George Burley’s Scottish side slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Macedonia in Skopje.

Goce Sedloski’s 5th minute freekick was tipped onto the post by Craig Gordon, but the rebound fell perfectly for Naumoski, and the SV Mattersburg striker duly did the rest.

The game was Burley’s first competitive game in charge of the national team, and he went with a 4-4-2, playing Miller and McFadden upfront. Scotland were missing several first team regulars- regular skipper Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton prominent among them.

In the 57th minute, the Scots had Craig Gordon to thank as he adjusted well to save a spectacular Shumulikoski effort. James McFadden had his penalty appeal waved away by the referee in the second half as Scotland tried to bring the game back on level terms, but they were unsuccessful as the hosts held on.

Scotland starting XI formation against Macedonia

——————————-Craig Gordon——————————————–

Alexander————-Caldwell——————McManus(c)——————-Naysmith

Brown—————-Hartley——————Fletcher———————Robson

J.McFadden——————-K.Miller

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SPL 2008-09 Falkirk 0-1 Rangers

Lithuanian striker Andrius Velicka scored the only goal of the game as Rangers beat Falkirk 1-0 in the opening game of the 2008-09 SPL season. Velicka, who was disappointing in his debut in the second leg of Rangers second round qualifying game against old club Kaunas, converted in the 64th minute from Kyle Lafferty’s cross.

Velicka scored the opening goal of the 2008-09 season for Rangers
Velicka scored the opening goal of the 2008-09 season for Rangers

Velicka’s goal came 10 minutes after Michael Higdon had his penalty saved by Allan McGregor. Steven Whittaker, one of the three Rangers players to be booked in the game, had brought down McBride in the box, but McGregor saved Rangers by pushing Higdon’s shot wide.

Other results from the SPL- Aug 9 2008

Hearts 3-2 Motherwell ( Michael Stewart 25′ , Audrius Ksanavicius 40′ , Saulius Mikoliunas 82′ / David Clarkson 33′, 81′)

Kilmarnock 1-0 Hibernian ( Jamie Hamill 80′)

Aberdeen 0-2 Inverness ( Andrew Borrowman 27′, Roy McBain 90′)
This is Inverness’ first ever win over Aberdeen.

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