Teams | November 6, 2012 at 03:21 PM
1-1: Game ends all square in Lautern
1-1: Game ends all square in Lautern
Ronny scored his 4th of the season to secure a point at the Betzenberg stadium.
The matchday 6 top five clash between Kaiserslautern and Hertha ended in a 1-1 draw, in front of 31,000 at the Betzenberg stadium on Saturday afternoon (22.09.12). In an at times heated affair (7 bookings) Ronny equalised for the visitors two minutes after Lautern had opened the scoring with a penalty.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay chose a different system to the one which came up trumps in the home win over Aalen last time out. The Dutchman opted to play a 4-2-3-1 system with Adrian Ramos on his own up front. Luhukay put Wagner and Allagui on the bench at first. They made way for returning duo Peer Kluge and Änis Ben-Hatira, who missed the Aalen game through slight knocks.
Bright start
Both teams made a lively start, with Hertha looking the better-structured team early on. After only three minutes Ronny played in Ramos with a beautiful pass with the outside of his boot. Sadly for the 1,100 or so travelling Hertha faithful the Columbian striker failed to strike the ball properly while handily-placed. A few minutes later the home side threatened for the first time as Florian Dick headed over the Berlin bar, as did Hertha's Marcel Ndjeng two minutes later from the right hand side of goal (10.).
Midway through the opening half Hertha almost broke the deadlock, but home keeper Tobias Sippel produced a fantasic flying stop to keep out a fierce effort from 20 metres from Ronny. Shortly afterwards Ramos brilliantly set up Ben-Hatira. But once again Sippel did well to prevent the ball from crossing the line. On 24 minutes Lautern's Dick tried his luck from distance, but Thomas Kraft between the Hertha posts was down in time to gather up the effort. After that things quietened down and the first half ended goalless.
Kaiserslautern improve after the break
Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer had been booked before the break and looked odds-on to be sent off as the half ended. Luhukay replaced the former Bremen defensive midfielder with Felix Bastians, who lost the ball to Idrissou in midfield, which gifted Lautern with their first chance after the break. Luckily Idrissou's shot was straight at Kraft who needed two attempts to secure the ball (56.). Ten minutes later Idrissou went down easily under a challenge from Holland. To everyone's surprise match referee Kinhöfer pointed to the penalty spot. A harsh decision. Up stepped Idrissou to slot the ball past Kraft to give Lautern a somewhat fortunate lead. The visitors struck back only two minutes later, as Ronny let fly with a shot from 20 metres out which found the bottom right hand corner of the net (68.).
Luhukay then introduced former Lautern striker Sandro Wagner to the fray. He was greeted by boos from the home fans. The emotionally-charged game then petred out somewhat as fatigue began to set in and goalmouth action became a rarity. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, probably about the right result on the balance of play.
Dynamo Dresden at home next
Hertha have a chance to enxtend their four-game unbeaten run on Wednesday (26.09.12, 17.30 CET), as well-supported Dynamo Dresden visit the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Matchday 7.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay chose a different system to the one which came up trumps in the home win over Aalen last time out. The Dutchman opted to play a 4-2-3-1 system with Adrian Ramos on his own up front. Luhukay put Wagner and Allagui on the bench at first. They made way for returning duo Peer Kluge and Änis Ben-Hatira, who missed the Aalen game through slight knocks.
Bright start
Both teams made a lively start, with Hertha looking the better-structured team early on. After only three minutes Ronny played in Ramos with a beautiful pass with the outside of his boot. Sadly for the 1,100 or so travelling Hertha faithful the Columbian striker failed to strike the ball properly while handily-placed. A few minutes later the home side threatened for the first time as Florian Dick headed over the Berlin bar, as did Hertha's Marcel Ndjeng two minutes later from the right hand side of goal (10.).
Midway through the opening half Hertha almost broke the deadlock, but home keeper Tobias Sippel produced a fantasic flying stop to keep out a fierce effort from 20 metres from Ronny. Shortly afterwards Ramos brilliantly set up Ben-Hatira. But once again Sippel did well to prevent the ball from crossing the line. On 24 minutes Lautern's Dick tried his luck from distance, but Thomas Kraft between the Hertha posts was down in time to gather up the effort. After that things quietened down and the first half ended goalless.
Kaiserslautern improve after the break
Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer had been booked before the break and looked odds-on to be sent off as the half ended. Luhukay replaced the former Bremen defensive midfielder with Felix Bastians, who lost the ball to Idrissou in midfield, which gifted Lautern with their first chance after the break. Luckily Idrissou's shot was straight at Kraft who needed two attempts to secure the ball (56.). Ten minutes later Idrissou went down easily under a challenge from Holland. To everyone's surprise match referee Kinhöfer pointed to the penalty spot. A harsh decision. Up stepped Idrissou to slot the ball past Kraft to give Lautern a somewhat fortunate lead. The visitors struck back only two minutes later, as Ronny let fly with a shot from 20 metres out which found the bottom right hand corner of the net (68.).
Luhukay then introduced former Lautern striker Sandro Wagner to the fray. He was greeted by boos from the home fans. The emotionally-charged game then petred out somewhat as fatigue began to set in and goalmouth action became a rarity. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, probably about the right result on the balance of play.
Dynamo Dresden at home next
Hertha have a chance to enxtend their four-game unbeaten run on Wednesday (26.09.12, 17.30 CET), as well-supported Dynamo Dresden visit the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Matchday 7.