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Bremen Wave Goodbye

DW staff / AFP (ot)May 4, 2007

Germany's hopes of European glory were dashed as Werder Bremen fell to Espanyol 2-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final. Bremen's low point came early in the match when striker Miroslav Klose was sent off.

Bremen got knocked to the ground again at the hands of EspanyolImage: AP

Barcelona-based Espanyol will now face fellow Spaniards FC Sevilla in the final in Glasgow, Scotland on May 16.

Playing in front of their home crowd in Weserstadion, Werder took an early lead after striker Hugo Almeida chipped a shot over the head of goal-keeper Gorka Iraizoz four minutes into the match.

Then only 15 minutes later, a hand ball earned Klose his second yellow card, leaving the German side without their top scorer.

Werder coach Thomas Schaaf accepted the defeat -- their third in three games -- saying it didn't come as a complete surprise.

Bremen were the Bundesliga's last side in European competitionImage: AP

"We have to take the defeat on the chin, because we were already 3-0 down from the first leg," he said.

Second-half goals by striker Ferran Corominas and defender Jesus Maria Lacruz finished off Bremen as Espanyol took home a 5-1 win on aggregate.

Horrible end to a bad week

"We gave it our best shot and the team played well," Schaaf said, whose team was the last Bundesliga side in European competition. "But I didn't understand a few of the referee's decisions. We did a lot of planning for this game and we tried everything, even with 10-men, but we were always fighting the tide."

The loss capped a difficult two weeks for Bremen and Klose. On Sunday Werder fell to Arminia Bielefeld 3-2 in a tough Bundesliga defeat. And last week striker Miroslav Klose was forced answer questions regarding a report of a nearly secret meeting with Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.

He later apologized to his club and fans and confirmed that he will be starting for Bremen again next season.

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