Teams | November 6, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Hertha lose 1-3 in Frankfurt
Hertha lose 1-3 in Frankfurt
Matchday 2 of the new second division season ended in defeat for Hertha BSC. On Sunday afternoon (12.08.12) new coach Jos Luhukay and his team lost 1-3 away to FSV Frankfurt. Hertha keeper Sascha Burchert was sent off for a "professional" foul shortly after halftime.
Berlin boss Luhukay was forced to make changes to the side which opened the new season with a 2-2 home draw against SC Paderborn last weekend. Kluge (ankle), Beichler (personal reasons) and Lustenberger were replaced in the starting line-up by Ronny, Adrian Ramos and Änis Ben-Hatira, who returned from suspension. Maik Franz made the squad for the first time this year, following his long injury lay-off with a cruciate ligament injury.
Defensive hosts
The home side camped out in and around their own penalty area from the opening whistle, and Hertha struggled to get past that massed defence at first. On 15 minutes though that all changed, as Sami Allagui cut into the area from the left. Frankfurt keeper Patric Klangt could only partially clear his effort, allowing Änis Ben-Hatira to scramble the ball over the line. Problem was, that Ben-Hatira was in an offside position so the goal did not stand. A looping Ramos header failed to trouble Klandt, who dealt with the situation easily (22.).
Frankfurt came out of their shell somewhat midway through the opening half. Their opening chance fell to Moise Bambara, who blasted a shot well over the crossbar (23.). After Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer had nodded a Ben-Hatira cross just past the left post (25.), at the other end Roman Hubnik needed a timely challenge to stop FSV striker Edmond Kapllani from opening the scoring while handily placed. Anthony Jung fired the rebound into the side-netting (26.). Then Hubnik threatened wirth a strong header which was cleared by Michael Göritz just before it crossed the line (37.). Marcel Ndjeng did well to win the ball in midfield from where he found Allagui, whose shot on the turn hit a post. Ben-Hatira was on hand to score from close range and give the visitors a halftime lead (40.).
Bitter start to second half
The second half begen in the worst possible way for Hertha. Anthony Brooks headed the ball back towards his keeper Burchert, but the ball fell short. Burchert brought down Kapplani inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot, before showing the Hertha stopper a red card. The ensuing spot kick was calmly slotted past new keeper Philip Sprint by former HSV man Björn Schlicke to pull the home side level (50.). Ten-man Hertha almost struck back right away, but Ben-Hatira's pass to Allagui was misjudged and a good chance went begging (55.). Hertha won a free kick and then lost possession. FSV substitute Mathew Leckie pounced and ran towards the Hertha goal unchallenged from almost the halfway line, before putting the home side 2-1 ahead (63.).
Hertha threw everything forward searching for an equaliser, but Frankfurt once again got everyone back in and around their own penalty area. On 68 minutes a free kick taken by Ronny was headed into the arms of Klandt by Berlin substitute Sandro Wagner. FSV sat back and waited for a chance to hit the visitors on the break. Alexander Huber got a shot in from an acute angle which flew past the right hand upright (74.). Hertha lacked ideas to spark a fightback. Luhukay brought ona further striker in Elias Kachunga in a final throw of the dice but to no avail. In injury time at the end of the second half Frankfurt struck for the third time through John Verhoek with a close range effort (90.).
Next week cup action against Worms
So Hertha returned to the capital city smarting from a 1-3 defeat. In the end they were void of good ideas, and being a man down just added to the pressure. On Sunday (18.08.12, 14.30 CET), Hertha face Regionalliga side Wormatia Worms away in round one of the 2012/13 DFB Cup.
Defensive hosts
The home side camped out in and around their own penalty area from the opening whistle, and Hertha struggled to get past that massed defence at first. On 15 minutes though that all changed, as Sami Allagui cut into the area from the left. Frankfurt keeper Patric Klangt could only partially clear his effort, allowing Änis Ben-Hatira to scramble the ball over the line. Problem was, that Ben-Hatira was in an offside position so the goal did not stand. A looping Ramos header failed to trouble Klandt, who dealt with the situation easily (22.).
Frankfurt came out of their shell somewhat midway through the opening half. Their opening chance fell to Moise Bambara, who blasted a shot well over the crossbar (23.). After Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer had nodded a Ben-Hatira cross just past the left post (25.), at the other end Roman Hubnik needed a timely challenge to stop FSV striker Edmond Kapllani from opening the scoring while handily placed. Anthony Jung fired the rebound into the side-netting (26.). Then Hubnik threatened wirth a strong header which was cleared by Michael Göritz just before it crossed the line (37.). Marcel Ndjeng did well to win the ball in midfield from where he found Allagui, whose shot on the turn hit a post. Ben-Hatira was on hand to score from close range and give the visitors a halftime lead (40.).
Bitter start to second half
The second half begen in the worst possible way for Hertha. Anthony Brooks headed the ball back towards his keeper Burchert, but the ball fell short. Burchert brought down Kapplani inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot, before showing the Hertha stopper a red card. The ensuing spot kick was calmly slotted past new keeper Philip Sprint by former HSV man Björn Schlicke to pull the home side level (50.). Ten-man Hertha almost struck back right away, but Ben-Hatira's pass to Allagui was misjudged and a good chance went begging (55.). Hertha won a free kick and then lost possession. FSV substitute Mathew Leckie pounced and ran towards the Hertha goal unchallenged from almost the halfway line, before putting the home side 2-1 ahead (63.).
Hertha threw everything forward searching for an equaliser, but Frankfurt once again got everyone back in and around their own penalty area. On 68 minutes a free kick taken by Ronny was headed into the arms of Klandt by Berlin substitute Sandro Wagner. FSV sat back and waited for a chance to hit the visitors on the break. Alexander Huber got a shot in from an acute angle which flew past the right hand upright (74.). Hertha lacked ideas to spark a fightback. Luhukay brought ona further striker in Elias Kachunga in a final throw of the dice but to no avail. In injury time at the end of the second half Frankfurt struck for the third time through John Verhoek with a close range effort (90.).
Next week cup action against Worms
So Hertha returned to the capital city smarting from a 1-3 defeat. In the end they were void of good ideas, and being a man down just added to the pressure. On Sunday (18.08.12, 14.30 CET), Hertha face Regionalliga side Wormatia Worms away in round one of the 2012/13 DFB Cup.