Topp rescue act not enough to save Steffen at ailing Werder Bremen

Keke Topp produced a stunning last-gasp equaliser, swivelling to volley home a chaotic set-piece in the fourth of five minutes of stoppage time to level against Borussia Mönchengladbach. The sequence — Marco Grüll’s delivery, Marco Grüll’s header cleared then nodded back by Isaac Schmidt, Senne Lynen stretching the ball back into play before it fell to Topp — briefly lifted the Weserstadion and felt like a near-miracle.

Despite the dramatic leveller, Werder Bremen dismissed Horst Steffen on Sunday morning. Sporting director Clemens Fritz entered the dressing room at 9.45am to tell the players that Steffen’s reign was over, with the club’s board feeling compelled to act even with the transfer deadline hours away.

The draw extended Werder’s winless run to 10 and leaves them 15th, two points behind Gladbach and out of the relegation play-off spot only by that margin. Fritz said he hopes to appoint an “external solution” from a short list of candidates; Felix Magath publicly put himself forward on Monday morning.