Pizarro leads Bremen into last 16

Published Feb. 25, 2010 10:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Claudio Pizarro scored a hat trick to lead Werder Bremen into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 4-1 victory over FC Twente on Thursday.

Defender Naldo also scored for Bremen in a one-sided match. Luuk de Jong scored a consolation goal for the Dutch side as Bremen won 4-2 on aggregate.

Pizarro's three goals means he is now the competition's leading scorer with eight.

"It was important that we scored some early goals," Pizarro said. "After that it became easier for us."

Bremen dominated from the opening whistle and took the lead after 15 minutes when Hugo Almeida sent in a low, hard cross into the penalty area and Pizarro tapped it in.

Five minutes later, Bremen pounced on a careless pass by Bernard Parker and Mesut Oezil passed to Pizarro, who scored his second with a crisp shot.

Two minutes later, Almeida hit the post as Bremen shredded Twente's defense.

In the 27th, Bremen again won possession and put together a swift passing move to outfox Twente's defense before Naldo beat goalkeeper Sander Boschker after being set up by Pizarro.

Twente revived its hopes when Bryan Ruiz had plenty of time to pick out as cross and de Jong was left unmarked to head home in the 33rd.

Ruiz hit the post with only Bremen's goalkeeper Christian Vander to beat - only to see Pizarro complete his hat trick and make it 4-1 in the very next move. Pizarro collected a pass at the edge of the area and slotted home.