Josh Sargent helped Werder Bremen end Eintracht Frankfurt’s unbeaten start to the year with the winning goal in a 2-1 defeat for the Bundesliga’s in-form team on Friday.
The United States forward scored one goal, had another ruled out, and saw another goal he set up ruled out on a busy night for the video referee.
Sargent’s winner in the 62nd minute was given by VAR despite looking offside in TV replays. Sargent didn’t celebrate after scoring as he seemed to believe he was just offside for Maximilian Eggestein’s pass.
The players of Bremen and Frankfurt clash during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Wohninvest Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Carmen Jaspersendpa via AP)
But the goal was awarded, giving Sargent his third score in the Bundesliga and fifth overall this season. He previously scored at Frankfurt on Oct. 31 and at Hertha Berlin on Jan. 23, but had not at home in any competition since last season’s Bundesliga finale against Cologne in June.
Sargent’s goal meant the end of Frankfurt’s 11-game unbeaten run in the league since Dec. 11 and a 2-1 loss at Wolfsburg. Frankfurt previously won eight from its nine Bundesliga games in 2021 with the only blip a draw at Freiburg.
Top scorer André Silva missed last weekend’s win over Bayern Munich with an injury picked up in training, but it didn’t take long for the Portuguese striker to pick up from where he left off in Bremen with the visitors’ opening goal in the ninth minute.
Frankfurt's defender Makoto Hasebe, right, and Bremen's striker Milot Rashica, left, compete for the ball, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Wohninvest Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Carmen Jaspersendpa via AP)
Filip Kostic, who is so important to Frankfurt’s attacking threat, crossed after a corner for Silva to head in his 19th goal of the season off the far post.
There were complaints from Bremen that the corner should have been given as Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow was last to touch the ball before it went out.
Bremen fought back. Sargent had a goal ruled out for offside in the buildup and it served as encouragement for the confidence-hit home team. Bremen hadn’t scored in two games.
Frankfurt midfielder Filip Kostic, left, and Bremen defender Theodor Gebre Selassie compete for the ball, during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Werder Bremen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Wohninvest Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Friday, Feb. 26, 2021. (Carmen Jaspersendpa via AP)
Milot Rashica grazed the top of the crossbar shortly afterward.
Theodor Gebre Selassie equalized just after the break, but the increasingly agitated Bremen coach’s patience was tested again with another offside call. Florian Kohfeldt was relieved when a VAR check confirmed the Bremen captain was on for Rashica’s defense-splitting pass.
VAR again favored Bremen for Sargent’s goal.
Frankfurt soccer players cheer after Andr' Silva, right, scored the first goal of the game against Bremen, during the German Bundesliga soccer match at Wohninvest Weserstadion in Bremen, Germany, Friday Feb. 26, 2021. (Carmen Jaspersendpa via AP)
The American forward set up Romano Schmid to make it 3-1 but again the offside flag was raised. This time VAR ruled in Frankfurt’s favor, though it was another close call.
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Greuther Fürth was relegated from the Bundesliga after losing at home to Champions League candidate Bayer Leverkusen 4-1 on Saturday.
Jetro Willems gave the enthusiastic home fans some hope of a miraculous escape with the opening goal in the fifth minute, but Patrik Schick answered four minutes later and Sardar Azmoun, Paulinho and Exequiel Palacios piled on for the visitors.
Fürth remained bottom of the league after 31 games – 12 points from safety with three games remaining.
Fuerth's players Sebastian Griesbeck, left, and Timothy Tillman, right, walk across the pitch after the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SpVgg Greuther Fuerth and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Fuerth, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Greuther Fürth has been relegated from the Bundesliga with a 4-1 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen. (Daniel Karmanndpa via AP)
Coach Stefan Leitl’s team was promoted last year when it finished second in the second division, but it never recovered from a poor start to the Bundesliga despite encouraging performances in the second half of the season. Fürth lost all but one of its first 14 games until it claimed its first win in the 15th round by beating Union Berlin.
Also on Saturday, Union came from behind thanks to substitute Sven Michel to beat Leipzig 2-1 away and atone for its loss to Leipzig in their German Cup semifinal on Wednesday.
Michel equalized in the 86th then set up Kevin Behrens with his heel for a dramatic winner in the 89th as Union won in Leipzig for the first time.
Fuerth's players walk across the pitch after the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SpVgg Greuther Fuerth and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Fuerth, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. Greuther Fürth has been relegated from the Bundesliga with a 4-1 loss at home to Bayer Leverkusen. (Daniel Karmanndpa via AP)
The end of Leipzig’s 15-game unbeaten run across all competitions allowed Leverkusen to reclaim third place. Leverkusen dropped to fourth last weekend with a loss at home to Leipzig, but the sides have switched positions again, leaving Leipzig in the last qualification place for the Champions League.
Freiburg was fifth after coming from two goals down to lead Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-2 only to concede the equalizer in injury time to Gladbach’s Lars Stindl.
Cologne was seventh behind Union after a 3-1 win over Arminia Bielefeld, which remained second from bottom and the favorite to join Fürth in the second division.
Union's Sven Michel, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between RB Leipzig and 1. FC Union Berlin in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Jan Woitasdpa via AP)
Also, Eintracht Frankfurt drew with Hoffenheim 2-2.
Bayern Munich hosted main rival Borussia Dortmund in “der Klassiker” late Saturday, when the Bavarian powerhouse was hoping to seal what would be a record-extending 10th consecutive title.
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Leverkusen's scorer Exequiel Palacios, left, and his teammate Paulinho celebrate their side's fourth goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SpVgg Greuther Fuerth and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Fuerth, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Daniel Karmanndpa via AP)
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Freiburg's Christian Guenter celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SC Freiburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022 (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)
Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada, center, scores his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Arne Dedertdpa via AP)
Cologne's scorer Anthony Modeste, left, and Jannes Horn, right, celebrate their side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween 1. FC Cologne and Arminia Bielefeld in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Marius Beckerdpa via AP)
Frankfurt's head coach Oliver Glasner gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween Eintracht Frankfurt and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Frankfurt, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Arne Dedertdpa via AP)
Leverkusen's Sardar Azmoun celebrates his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SpVgg Greuther Fuerth and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Fuerth, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Daniel Karmanndpa via AP)
Freiburg's head coach Christian Streich gestures during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SC Freiburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)
Moenchengladbach's Kouadio Kone, left, and Freiburg's Vincenzo Grifo, right, challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween SC Freiburg and Borussia Moenchengladbach in Freiburg, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. (Tom Wellerdpa via AP)
Leipzig's goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, right, saves the ball against Union's Taiwo Awoniyi, left, during the German Bundesliga soccer match bettween RB Leipzig and 1. FC Union Berlin in Leipzig, Germany, Saturday, April 23, 2022. ( Jan Woitasdpa via AP)
