A strike in either half sealed Werder Bremen's passage through to the DFB Pokal third round. Chemnitzer had their chances, but Fin Bartels and Franco di Santo's goals ensured a relatively easy win.
After a lightning start to the season, Chemnitz have began to tail off slightly. Just one win in their last five has pulled them down into a massive mix of the top ten teams being separated by three points. Keen to maintain the continuity within the side, Karsten Heine made just one change from the 0-0 draw with Holstein Kiel; as Marc Lais was replaced by Marco Kehl-Gomez.
Werder Bremen, in their first game without Robin Dutt, were equally keen to get back on track. Defeat to FC Köln signalled the end of his tenure, with Viktor Skripnik replacing him. The Ukrainian, keen to stamp his authority on the squad, brought in three new faces from the weekend loss: Levent Aycicek, Theodor Gebre Selassie and Felix Kroos all started, while Luca Caldirola, Cedrick Makiadi and Zlatko Junuzovic dropped out.
The hosts continued where they left off from the Mainz game, attacking play in abundance. Reagy Ofosu had a massive chance to open the scoring within the first five minutes, but he scuffed his shot and it squirmed harmlessly wide; good contact on the ball would have seriously troubled Raphael Wolf. Bremen were having the better of the opening exchanges, however. When Franco di Santo turned his man and shot, it looked like they'd taken the lead - only for Philipp Pentke to palm the ball away.
The visitors, coming ever closer to an opening goal, almost snuck ahead; though the surprisingly advanced Santiago Garcia struck just wide of the post. At the other end, Anton Fink's thirty-yard pile-driver went one better and did strike the woodwork, unfortunately for Chemnitz it bounced to safety. Football is a cruel mistress and Chemnitz paid the price for some lacklustre defending.
Without sufficient recruits to defend a Bremen breakaway, that allowed Izet Hajrovic to drift inside with some silky skills and slide the ball through to Fin Bartels. The ex-St. Pauli player lifted the ball over the onrushing Pentke with a beautiful chip, much to the joy of the travelling support. They very nearly had something else to celebrate as the half came to a close, as a Hajrovic costless-kick slipped through Pentke's hands and almost over the line; yet some fantastic defending from defending from Marc Endres, somehow, managed to clear the ball to safety.
The hosts were under pressure from the off and Bremen took immediate advantage of their stretched defence. Clemens Fritz made his way through a number of challenges and then poked a ball through to di Santo. The Argentine, bloodied from an earlier challenge, doubled the lead, proving that he certainly wasn't seeing double; following a touch to set himself, he then fired a ferocious shot past Pentke, who couldn't raise an arm before it was past him.
Now in full control, the Bundesliga side were more than happy to sit back and allow Chemnitz to have the ball. The threat still remained on the counter, but the second goal had severely knocked the hosts' confidence. They tried to maintain their brand of costless-flowing, attacking football, but it was easily broken up by Werder and it was near impossible for them to find any rhythm. Chances aplenty fell to Bremen on the counter, as previously mentioned, though Davie Selke and co. couldn't force home a third goal.
The experience of being in a situation similar to this helped the Northerners close out the game, which failed to spark like many neutrals had hoped. The Chemnitzer FC cup run is over, though their main aim will be promotion to 2.Bundesliga football. A game away at league leader SV Wehen isn't exactly easing back into things, but one Heine and his team will be relishing. Bremen will be hoping they can kick on from the win and get some vital Bundesliga points away in Mainz on Saturday.