Bremen enjoys b'day win over Hertha

Bremen snapped a five-game losing streak thanks to striker Claudio Pizarro's game-winner nine minutes from the end.

Pizarro finally struck home after hitting the right post in the 20th minute and twice getting stopped by Berlin goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny in the 34th and 49th minutes.

“This win was very important for us,” Pizarro said. “You could see that you can't just win with football. We were missing the fight, but we fought today. And this victory will give us self-confidence.”

Werder jumped to 31 points from 21 matches but remained in sixth place, four points behind fifth-place Hamburg.

“The main thing was to gain some points,” Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf said. “It was an up-and-down game, but the team showed that they wanted to win.”

Hertha Berlin suffered its first loss of 2010 and remained in last place with 11 points, seven points from a safe spot.

“Again, nothing. We just have to win some points,” Berlin coach Friedhelm Funkel said.

“We lost the game and there are fewer games left in the season. But the team has stabilized itself and we will get closer to staying in the league.

“We will get over this defeat and look forward to our next game and we have to win it.”

After three failed chances by Pizarro, Marko Marin gave Bremen the lead after 66 minutes, side-volleying a deflected shot by teammate Mesut Ozil.

But Theofanis Gekas equalized for Berlin just two minutes later, pouncing on a loose ball which Bremen 'keeper Tim Wiese could not clear.

Pizarro finally grabbed his goal in the 81st on a setpiece as he stopped a free kick and struck home with his left foot.

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