Arouna Answers Shimada as Stuttgart Takes a Point From Bremen

Mei Shimada put Werder Bremen ahead in the 41st minute, but promoted VfB Stuttgart had already shown it could cause problems before falling behind. Chantal Hagel struck the crossbar and Bremen goalkeeper Mariella El Sherif denied Dafina Redzepi, then Stuttgart finally found its reward seven minutes after halftime. Hagel sent Mira Arouna behind the Bremen defense, and Arouna finished for her first Frauen-Bundesliga goal and a 1-1 draw. Bremen moved to 10 points and fourth but missed its chance to pull level with third-place Wolfsburg, while Stuttgart remained seventh with eight points.

EVE’s Note: Stuttgart’s first season in the Frauen-Bundesliga continues to look like much more than a survival exercise. The promoted side has eight points from five matches, with wins over Hoffenheim and Hamburg and draws at Nürnberg and Bremen. Taking another road point from a Bremen side sitting fourth adds another encouraging result to an impressive start at this level.