Werder Bremen scored twice in the final nine minutes to secure a hard-earned home victory over Austria Vienna, and with it a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League.

Tim Borowski finally opened the scoring in the 81st minute and Hugo Almeida capped off his first game since August with the second goal three minutes later.

Werder extended their unbeaten run to 18 games and Thomas Schaaf's side now have 10 points at the top of Group L.

Borowski had the first chance of the game after 10 minutes but Austria goalkeeper Szabolcs Safar made the save.

His opposite number Tim Wiese proved his skill seven minutes later with a fine stop from Milenko Acimovic, who had a free run on the left before trying his luck from 13 yards.

Marin Leovac appeared to have been brought down by Werder defender Clemens Fritz in the area in the 23rd minute but referee Stefan Johannesson refused to point to the spot.

Wiese again was called upon to keep Werder in the game four minutes later as Emin Sulimani got behind the home defence before seeing his shot deflect off Wiese and just over the crossbar.

The visitors were forced to replace Safar at half-time, with Robert Almer coming on.

But Wiese was the first goalkeeper called into action, superbly blocking Jacek Bak's header in the 46th minute and then gathering Aleksander Dragovic's subsequent pass back into the goalmouth.

Wiese again saved his team-mates 12 minutes later, getting down to his left to fend away Michael Liendl's shot from 13 yards.

Werder began to push forward with more determination but Aaron Hunt's shot went just wide in the 63rd minute and Almer did a fine job stopping Hugo Almeida's shot a minute later.

Borowski missed two chances before finally getting his goal with nine minutes left.

Mesut Ozil sent a high ball into the area where Markus Rosenberg headed on and Borowski headed home from 11 yards.

Almeida doubled the advantage just three minutes later, collecting Hunt's ball with his hip before turning and shooting beyond Almer.

Teams:

Werder Bremen Wiese, Fritz, Mertesacker, Naldo, Pasanen, Niemeyer (Jensen 74), Borowski, Bargfrede (Hugo Almeida 47), Ozil, Hunt, Marin (Rosenberg 60).

Subs Not Used: Vander, Boenisch, Prodl.

Booked: Bargfrede.

Goals: Borowski 81, Hugo Almeida 84.

FK Austria Vienna Safar (Almer 47), Klein, Bak, Dragovic, Leovac, Hattenberger, Emin Sulimani (Diabang 83), Liendl (Baumgartlinger 74), Junuzovic, Acimovic, Schumacher.

Subs Not Used: Wallner, Vorisek, Kramner.

Booked: Hattenberger.

Att: 30,000

Ref: Stefan Johannesson (Sweden).