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Espanyol given impetus by Klose's early dismissal

Werder Bremen 1 Espanyol 2: Espanyol beat 10-man Werder Bremen last night to cruise into an all-Spanish Uefa Cup final with …

Fri May 04 2007 - 01:00

Werder Bremen 1 Espanyol 2:Espanyol beat 10-man Werder Bremen last night to cruise into an all-Spanish Uefa Cup final with a 5-1 aggregate success.

Werder, needing a heroic comeback at their Weserstadion after a 3-0 defeat in Barcelona in the first leg, got the start they wanted when Hugo Almeida scored with a long-range strike in the fourth minute.

Their chances were effectively over a quarter of an hour later, however, when striker Miroslav Klose was dismissed for a second yellow card, given for what French referee Bertrand Layec took to be a dive near the edge of the area.

Espanyol, beaten Uefa Cup finalists in 1988, equalised through Ferran Corominas five minutes after the break and sealed victory when Mari Lacruz headed in from a corner just past the hour mark.

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Even after the sending-off of Klose, Werder continued to threaten, with Aaron Hunt proving a real threat.

His deflected shot might easily have brought a second in the 30th minute, and 10 minutes later he bamboozled the Espanyol defence on the right before sending over a cross that Almeida volleyed wide.

Werder looked dangerous at the start of the second half but they wasted a free kick from the edge of the box and Espanyol soon had the tie sewn up.

Albert Riera crossed into the box from the left. Goalkeeper Andreas Reinke, playing in place of the suspended Tim Wiese following his red card in the first leg, failed to hold the ball and Corominas only had to tap in.

The Spaniards sealed the result when Lacruz outjumped Daniel Jensen to head in the winner.

WERDER BREMEN:Reinke, Pasanen, Naldo, Schulz, Owomoyela (Schindler 45), Diego, Daniel Jensen (Wome 70), Frings (Baumann 75), Hugo Almeida, Klose, Hunt. Subs not used: Vander, Vranjes, Polenz, Bischoff. Sent off: Klose (19). Booked: Klose, Hugo Almeida. Goal: Hugo Almeida 4.

ESPANYOL:Iraizoz, David Garcia, Lacruz, Jarque, Torrejon, Zabaleta (Angel 65), Ito, Luis Garcia, Riera (Rufete 70), Coro, Tamudo (Julian 79). Subs not used: Kameni, Velasco, Moha, Chica. Booked: Zabaleta, Coro, Luis Garcia. Goals: Coro 50, Lacruz 61.

Referee:Bertrand Layec (France).