Werder enjoy UEFA Cup stroll after Wiese saves

By Justin Palmer

LONDON (Reuters) - Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese saved two first-half penalties as the Bundesliga side began their UEFA Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Braga on Wednesday.

Werder, parachuted into the last 32 of the competition from the Champions League, profited from Braga's wasteful finishing at the Weserstadion to take full command of the first knockout round tie.

Olympique Marseille, PSV Eindhoven and Sporting, also entering the competition after finishing third in their Champions League groups, also eased to first-leg wins at home.

Wiese kept out Roland Linz's 10th-minute spot kick to maintain Werder's early lead given to them by Brazilian centre-back Naldo, back after missing Sunday's Bundesliga draw with title rivals Bayern Munich through suspension.

Daniel Jensen increased Werder's advantage before Wiese again came to the rescue, keeping out Jorginho's penalty nine minutes before halftime.

Werder's Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida rubbed salt into Braga's wounds in second-half stoppage time when he showed his compatriots how to score from the spot.

"He (Wiese) kept us in the game spectacularly. It was a really special day for him," Werder sporting director Klaus Allofs told reporters.

Marseille took 62 minutes to break down Spartak Moscow before Benoit Cheyrou's opener was quickly followed by goals from Taye Taiwo and Mamadou Niang in a 3-0 win.