Teams | November 6, 2012 at 03:21 PM
1-1-draw in Braunschweig
1-1-draw in Braunschweig
Hertha and Eintracht Braunschweig drew their Bundesliga 2 matchday 11 top two clash on Saturday afternoon.
The sold out Eintracht stadium saw the visitors equalise after going a goal down to the unbeaten table-toppers.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay kept faith with the team which won 2-0 at Bochum last time out with one exception: Änis Ben-Hatira was replaced by Nico Schulz, after the Tunisian pulled up during Thursday's training session after only 20 minutes with intense pain.
Cautious start
The game began in a cautious manner with neither side able to string together enough passes needed to create any promising moves. Adrian Ramos broke down the left and crossed into the middle. The ball was scrambled away for a corner. That corner landed at the feet of Schulz who rushed his shot fom outside the area sending the ball high and wide of target (10.). Five minutes later Ronny cut in from the right and fired a wayward effort wide of target.
The home side began to threaten after around 20 minutes, as Ken Reichel crossed into the Berlin box but his pass found no takers. Braunschweig's first shot on goal broke the deadlock on 26 minutes, as their captain Dennis Kruppke fired a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom left hand corner of Thomas Kraft's net. Then Schulz found Ronny with a pass behind the home defence, but the Brazilian blazed the ball over the crossbar (38.). Three minutes before the break Peer Kluge and Peter Niemeyer both just failed to get their heads to a free kick floated into the box by Ronny. Braunschweig led 1-0 at the break.
Better late than never
Hertha emerged from the second half unchanged and took the game to their hosts from the off. A dangerous free kick by Ronny was cleared away for a corner on 47 minutes. Five minutes later Ramos failed to get enough power and direction onto a cross from Schulz. Hertha's attacking approach allowed the home side to hit them on the break. Kraft took the sting out of a shot from distance by Kruppke (61.) one one of those occasions. The Hertha keeper was in action again soon afterwards as Brooks lost the ball to Kumbela. Kraft made a timely challenge to clear his lines much to the delight of the over 2,000 Hertha fans who had made the trip.
Luhukay introduced Sandro Wagner and reverted to a classic 4-4-2 system which seemed to better suit his side. Kluge found himself bearing down on home keeper Davari. Theuerkauf, needed a last ditch sliding tackle to deny the Hertha midfielder (70.). Peter Pekarik then found Ronny lurking at the far post, but Davari parried the Brazilian's volley well (76.). Hertha were not to be denied though and deservedly equalised two minutes later, as Ramos nodded home a Ronny cross. The Columbian almost scored again moments later, but his chip landed on the roof of the Braunschweig net.
Niemeyer to miss Ingolstadt visit
Ronny sent a last minute free kick agonisingly wide, so the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Hertha are in action again next Friday (02.11.12, 18.00 CET), as FC Ingolstadt visit the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 12. Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer will not play because he is suspended after picking up a fifth booking in Braunschweig.
Hertha coach Jos Luhukay kept faith with the team which won 2-0 at Bochum last time out with one exception: Änis Ben-Hatira was replaced by Nico Schulz, after the Tunisian pulled up during Thursday's training session after only 20 minutes with intense pain.
Cautious start
The game began in a cautious manner with neither side able to string together enough passes needed to create any promising moves. Adrian Ramos broke down the left and crossed into the middle. The ball was scrambled away for a corner. That corner landed at the feet of Schulz who rushed his shot fom outside the area sending the ball high and wide of target (10.). Five minutes later Ronny cut in from the right and fired a wayward effort wide of target.
The home side began to threaten after around 20 minutes, as Ken Reichel crossed into the Berlin box but his pass found no takers. Braunschweig's first shot on goal broke the deadlock on 26 minutes, as their captain Dennis Kruppke fired a low shot from the edge of the area into the bottom left hand corner of Thomas Kraft's net. Then Schulz found Ronny with a pass behind the home defence, but the Brazilian blazed the ball over the crossbar (38.). Three minutes before the break Peer Kluge and Peter Niemeyer both just failed to get their heads to a free kick floated into the box by Ronny. Braunschweig led 1-0 at the break.
Better late than never
Hertha emerged from the second half unchanged and took the game to their hosts from the off. A dangerous free kick by Ronny was cleared away for a corner on 47 minutes. Five minutes later Ramos failed to get enough power and direction onto a cross from Schulz. Hertha's attacking approach allowed the home side to hit them on the break. Kraft took the sting out of a shot from distance by Kruppke (61.) one one of those occasions. The Hertha keeper was in action again soon afterwards as Brooks lost the ball to Kumbela. Kraft made a timely challenge to clear his lines much to the delight of the over 2,000 Hertha fans who had made the trip.
Luhukay introduced Sandro Wagner and reverted to a classic 4-4-2 system which seemed to better suit his side. Kluge found himself bearing down on home keeper Davari. Theuerkauf, needed a last ditch sliding tackle to deny the Hertha midfielder (70.). Peter Pekarik then found Ronny lurking at the far post, but Davari parried the Brazilian's volley well (76.). Hertha were not to be denied though and deservedly equalised two minutes later, as Ramos nodded home a Ronny cross. The Columbian almost scored again moments later, but his chip landed on the roof of the Braunschweig net.
Niemeyer to miss Ingolstadt visit
Ronny sent a last minute free kick agonisingly wide, so the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Hertha are in action again next Friday (02.11.12, 18.00 CET), as FC Ingolstadt visit the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 12. Hertha skipper Peter Niemeyer will not play because he is suspended after picking up a fifth booking in Braunschweig.