BIELEFELD: US striker Josh Sargent scored for a third straight Bundesliga game to lift Werder Bremen to a 2-0 win over 10-man Arminia Bielefeld on Wednesday, which moved his team further away from the relegation zone.

The result keeps Bremen 12th, but they moved 11 points clear of the relegation play-off spot, occupied by Bielefeld.

Sargent was on hand to apply the finish in the 47th minute when Milot Rashica`s shot took a looping deflection toward the far post.

Bielefeld`s hopes of a comeback were hit when Nathan de Medina was sent off in the 71st after a video review found his clumsy challenge on Niclas Fuellkrug worthy of a red card.

De Medina made contact with Fuellkrug`s ankle from behind with his studs and was initially given a yellow card before VAR intervened.

Bremen took advantage almost immediately as Kevin Mhwald finished off a team move down the right flank in the 75th by sidefooting in Maximilian Eggestein`s cut-back cross from the touchline.

The defeat leaves Bielefeld 16th and two points from guaranteed safety, but with a one-point lead over the bottom two.

Heavy snowfall in Bielefeld meant the match was originally postponed earlier this month.-Agencies