Teams | November 6, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Hertha BSC beat Dynamo Dresden
Hertha BSC beat Dynamo Dresden
The capital city deservedly beat Dynamo Dresden 1-0.
A crowd of 45,000 greeted both teams as they emerged from the tunnel, to do battle in the Olympic stadium on Wednesday evening (26.09.12). Around 15,000 Dresden fans attended the game. The home side won through a fifth minute own goal from Dresden's Romain Brégerie, but the win was thoroughly deserved because Hertha dominated in all departments for most of the game.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay was without key defender Maik Franz, who sustained a serious shoulder injury during the 1-1 matchday 6 draw at Kaiserslautern last time out. Franz underwent successful surgery on the day of Dresden's visit, but will miss the rest of the first half of the season. Also out was Czech defender Roman Hubnik. Luhukay played young Felix Bastians alongside Fabian Lustenberger in central defence. Up front Sandro Wagner got the nod over Columbian hitman Adrian Ramos.
Hertha make the better start
Hertha took the game to the visitors from the opening whistle, winning three corners in as many minutes. From one of them Peter Niemeyer headed the ball against the Dynamo crossbar (3.). And Hertha weren't finished there either. A crisp cross by Ronny into the Dresden box was headed into his own goal by Romain Brégerie, leaving his Florian Fromlowitz groping at air (5.) 1-0 to Hertha. If there was any danger it always involved Hertha. Marcel Ndjeng tried to reach Wagner who was handily placed at the far post, but a last-ditch clearance by Cheikh Guèye cleared the danger for the visitors (19.).
The home side continued to control the game, while Dresden simply didn't happen up front. On 25 minutes Wagner only just failed to get a controlled header on goal following a useful cross curled in by Peter Pekarik. Dresden keeper Fromlowitz then made two critical saves, firstly parrying a Wagner header before saving the rebound by Änis Ben-Hatira from a tight angle (27.). Moments before the break Ben-Hatira just failed to time a through ball to Kluge or Wagner who had timed their runs to perfection. Hertha took a well-deserved one goal lead into the halftime break wit them.
Hertha's defence leak-proof after the break
Dresden tried to up the anti early in the second half, but they failed to threaten the goal being kept by Thomas Kraft. Hertha's attacks on the other hand looked far more dangerous. Just short of the hour mark Peer Kluge found Wagner who in turn played an excellent ball to the feet of the-unmarked Ndjeng, who somehow blazed the ball over the crossbar as it looked easier to score. Hertha's set-pieces were also dangerous. Ndjeng headed a Niemeyer corner onto the roof of the Dresden net (71.). Seconds later Kluge crossed onto the head of Ben-Hatira, who headed well over the bar.
On 78 minutes Ben-Hatira played a one two with Ndjeng but he failed to beat Fromlowitz with a shot from an acute angle. That was Ben-Hatira's final contribution, because he was taken off and replaced by Nico Schutz. Ben-Hatira received a deserved standing ovation as he left the pitch. One minute from full time the visitors finally threatened for the first time, but Fabian Lustenberger denied Mikael Poté with a well-timed intervention. Then Ronny went off with the home fans chanting his name. The Brazilian was replaced by Bundesliga debutant Hany Mukhtar. Hertha easily played out the three minutes of added time to extend their unbeaten run to five games. The win over Dresden sees Luhukay and Co. move into 4th place in the Bundesliga 2 table. The capital city side are on their travels on matchday 8. Next Monday evening (01.10.12) they take on bottom-placed MSV Duisburg.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay was without key defender Maik Franz, who sustained a serious shoulder injury during the 1-1 matchday 6 draw at Kaiserslautern last time out. Franz underwent successful surgery on the day of Dresden's visit, but will miss the rest of the first half of the season. Also out was Czech defender Roman Hubnik. Luhukay played young Felix Bastians alongside Fabian Lustenberger in central defence. Up front Sandro Wagner got the nod over Columbian hitman Adrian Ramos.
Hertha make the better start
Hertha took the game to the visitors from the opening whistle, winning three corners in as many minutes. From one of them Peter Niemeyer headed the ball against the Dynamo crossbar (3.). And Hertha weren't finished there either. A crisp cross by Ronny into the Dresden box was headed into his own goal by Romain Brégerie, leaving his Florian Fromlowitz groping at air (5.) 1-0 to Hertha. If there was any danger it always involved Hertha. Marcel Ndjeng tried to reach Wagner who was handily placed at the far post, but a last-ditch clearance by Cheikh Guèye cleared the danger for the visitors (19.).
The home side continued to control the game, while Dresden simply didn't happen up front. On 25 minutes Wagner only just failed to get a controlled header on goal following a useful cross curled in by Peter Pekarik. Dresden keeper Fromlowitz then made two critical saves, firstly parrying a Wagner header before saving the rebound by Änis Ben-Hatira from a tight angle (27.). Moments before the break Ben-Hatira just failed to time a through ball to Kluge or Wagner who had timed their runs to perfection. Hertha took a well-deserved one goal lead into the halftime break wit them.
Hertha's defence leak-proof after the break
Dresden tried to up the anti early in the second half, but they failed to threaten the goal being kept by Thomas Kraft. Hertha's attacks on the other hand looked far more dangerous. Just short of the hour mark Peer Kluge found Wagner who in turn played an excellent ball to the feet of the-unmarked Ndjeng, who somehow blazed the ball over the crossbar as it looked easier to score. Hertha's set-pieces were also dangerous. Ndjeng headed a Niemeyer corner onto the roof of the Dresden net (71.). Seconds later Kluge crossed onto the head of Ben-Hatira, who headed well over the bar.
On 78 minutes Ben-Hatira played a one two with Ndjeng but he failed to beat Fromlowitz with a shot from an acute angle. That was Ben-Hatira's final contribution, because he was taken off and replaced by Nico Schutz. Ben-Hatira received a deserved standing ovation as he left the pitch. One minute from full time the visitors finally threatened for the first time, but Fabian Lustenberger denied Mikael Poté with a well-timed intervention. Then Ronny went off with the home fans chanting his name. The Brazilian was replaced by Bundesliga debutant Hany Mukhtar. Hertha easily played out the three minutes of added time to extend their unbeaten run to five games. The win over Dresden sees Luhukay and Co. move into 4th place in the Bundesliga 2 table. The capital city side are on their travels on matchday 8. Next Monday evening (01.10.12) they take on bottom-placed MSV Duisburg.