Nigeria-eligible defender scores on Werder Bremen debut two days after joining from Leeds

Super Eagles-eligible defender Isaac Schmidt made an instant impact on his Bundesliga debut for Werder Bremen on Saturday, coming off the bench to score a vital goal in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

The three-cap Switzerland international completed a loan move to Bremen from Leeds United just two days earlier, with the German club securing an option to make the deal permanent.

Schmidt was one of four players of Nigerian descent on display in the contest staged at the Weserstadion.

Felix Agu and Justin Njinmah started for Werder Bremen, while Nathan Tella featured from the outset for Bayer Leverkusen.

Seeking more regular football after registering 14 appearances across all competitions for Leeds last season, Schmidt has been handed a fresh opportunity in the Bundesliga.

Wearing the No. 23 shirt, he was introduced in the 72nd minute for Samuel Mbangula and wasted little time making his mark.

Four minutes after his introduction, Schmidt capitalised on a blunder from the Leverkusen goalkeeper, rolling the ball into an empty net to hand Bremen a lifeline.

Just moments earlier, he had gone close when his deflected effort struck the side-netting.

Patrik Schick and Malik Tillman put Leverkusen 2-0 up before Romano Schmid reduced the deficit from the penalty spot.

Schick restored the visitors two-goal cushion midway through the second half, only for Schmidt and Karim Coulibaly to strike late on and salvage Bremen's first point of the season.

The three fastest players on the pitch shared Nigerian heritage, with Tella topping the list, followed by Agu and Njinmah.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: werder.de

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