Mertesacker gives Werder win but Chelsea qualify

BREMEN, Germany, Nov 22 (Reuters) Werder Bremen today beat Chelsea 1-0, a result that kept them firmly in the running for a place in the last 16 of the Champions League while sending Chelsea through.

Per Mertesacker, the tall German defender, took advantage of poor marking at a corner to power in a header in the 27th minute.

Michael Ballack, the man who failed to pick up Mertesacker, should have made amends but the Germany captain made a mess of the best Chelsea chance of the game, giving Tim Wiese an easy save when he met Joe Cole's perfect cross only with his thigh.

Chelsea stay top of the group, level on 10 points with Werder but ahead of them on the head-to-head record thanks to their 2-0 win in London.

The Germans play Barcelona, who are in third with eight points, at the Nou Camp in a fortnight in a match that will decide which of the teams go through along with Chelsea.

Reuters SBA VP0330