Hamburg beat Bundesliga rivals Werder Bremen 1-0 in the first leg of their all-German UEFA Cup semifinal at the Weserstadion.
The visitors almost took the lead inside two minutes when Ivica Olić latched onto a pass from Jonathan Pitroipa only to see his shot saved by the onrushing Tim Wiese.
But they went ahead on 28 minutes as Guy Demel crossed the ball in from the right and Piotr Trochowski powerfully headed home over Wiese's outstretched arms inside the far post.
Claudio Pizarro came close to equalising for Bremen on the stroke of half-time when he rose unmarked in the box but could only direct his header wide.
Referee Howard Webb had to interrupt the match briefly early in the second half after Hamburg fans lit flares and smoke drifted onto the field.
Bremen continued to apply pressure, but Pizarro blazed a shot over and Naldo hit one wide from distance as Hamburg clung on to their advantage.
Bremen v Hamburg goal & highlights
Shakhtar Donetsk grabbed a vital away goal after drawing 1-1 against fellow Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg at the Valeri Lobanovsky Stadium.
The hosts went ahead after 22 minutes when Oleksandr Aliev fired in a free-kick from the right only for the ball to cannon off the shin of Shakhtar defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy into the back of his own net.
Dynamo could have doubled their lead shortly after when Carlos Correa hit a shot from distance with Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov beaten but the midfielder could only watch as his shot hit the outside of the post.
Shakhtar got their invaluable away goal in the 68th minute as Jádson picked up the ball and found substitute Willian, who slid a pass at the near post where Fernandinho tapped home from close range.
Dynamo should have doubled the lead 12 minutes from time but Oleksandr Aliyev's low effort was saved by a smart block by Pyatov.
Dynamo Kiev v Shakhtar Donetsk goal & highlights
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The visitors almost took the lead inside two minutes when Ivica Olić latched onto a pass from Jonathan Pitroipa only to see his shot saved by the onrushing Tim Wiese.
But they went ahead on 28 minutes as Guy Demel crossed the ball in from the right and Piotr Trochowski powerfully headed home over Wiese's outstretched arms inside the far post.
Claudio Pizarro came close to equalising for Bremen on the stroke of half-time when he rose unmarked in the box but could only direct his header wide.
Referee Howard Webb had to interrupt the match briefly early in the second half after Hamburg fans lit flares and smoke drifted onto the field.
Bremen continued to apply pressure, but Pizarro blazed a shot over and Naldo hit one wide from distance as Hamburg clung on to their advantage.
Bremen v Hamburg goal & highlights
Shakhtar Donetsk grabbed a vital away goal after drawing 1-1 against fellow Ukrainian side Dynamo Kiev in the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg at the Valeri Lobanovsky Stadium.
The hosts went ahead after 22 minutes when Oleksandr Aliev fired in a free-kick from the right only for the ball to cannon off the shin of Shakhtar defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy into the back of his own net.
Dynamo could have doubled their lead shortly after when Carlos Correa hit a shot from distance with Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov beaten but the midfielder could only watch as his shot hit the outside of the post.
Shakhtar got their invaluable away goal in the 68th minute as Jádson picked up the ball and found substitute Willian, who slid a pass at the near post where Fernandinho tapped home from close range.
Dynamo should have doubled the lead 12 minutes from time but Oleksandr Aliyev's low effort was saved by a smart block by Pyatov.
Dynamo Kiev v Shakhtar Donetsk goal & highlights
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