Werder Bremen are in a strong position to reach the Uefa Cup semi-finals after a 3-1 win over Udinese.

Brazilian grabs brace to sink Udinese

Werder Bremen are in a strong position to reach the Uefa Cup semi-finals after a 3-1 home win over Udinese. Brazilian schemer Diego scored twice for the German outfit, and Hugo Almeida added another, before Fabio Quagliarella grabbed a late away goal. Bremen came close to taking the lead in the quarter-final, first-leg tie just past the half-hour mark when Naldo struck the crossbar. However, the hosts did not have to wait long to make the breakthrough as Diego rifled home from the edge of the box on 34 minutes after being teed up by Mesut Ozil. The same combination created the second goal on 67 minutes as Ozil again set up Diego to curl home a shot from the edge of the area. And just two minutes later, Bremen notched a third on the counter-attack as Almeida raced into the box and placed a low shot past Udinese keeper Samir Handanovic. Udinese gave themselves hope for the return by nabbing an away goal three minutes from time as Quagliarella scored from close range after team-mate Antonio Floro Flores missed a cross.