Meet Claudio Pizarro. He is the fifth-highest goal scorer in Bundesliga history with 195 goals, the latest of which he scored today. He’s been around a long time. By soccer standards, Pizarro is ancient [40 years, four months and 13 days old], and he is well-traveled. After spending the first four seasons of his professional career playing club football in the Peruvian First Division [Primera División Peruana – 1996-1999], the Peruvian striker came to the Bundesliga. Since coming to the Bundesliga, Pizarro has played for Bayern Munich [twice], Werder Bremen [four times], and one season at 1. FC Köln. While bouncing around these teams, he managed to squeeze in one season at Chelsea in the English Premier League.
Today I was watching the Matchday 22 game between Hertha Berlin and Werder Bremen. At the 25-minute mark, former Bremen striker Davie Selke put Hertha ahead 1-0. As the game progressed, it looked as if Hertha’s defense would make this slimmest of leads stick. Whatever Werder tried to break through Hertha’s defense didn’t work. Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt brought Pizarro off the bench just past the hour mark [Pizarro rarely starts anymore]. Werder began to dominate possession in the second half but couldn’t score. As the game got to 90 minutes, one of the officials flashed the amount of stoppage time added – four minutes. Hertha was still leading 1-0 when Hertha’s Fabian Lustenberger fouled American Josh Sargeant just outside the penalty area five minutes into stoppage time. The referee awarded Werder a free kick. Claudio Pizarro took the free kick. Two deflections off Hertha players later, the ball found the back of the net. Werder Bremen snatched a point on the road. Hertha Berlin let one get away.
Claudio Pizarro is now the oldest goal scorer in Bundesliga history.
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