Teams | November 30, 2012 at 03:45 PM
1-1 draw at home to Köln
1-1 draw at home to Köln
Hertha BSC and 1. FC Köln drew 1-1 in Berlin.
Despite creating several useful scoring chances, Hertha had to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Köln, on Bundesliga 2 matchday 16 in front of a half full Olympic stadium (34,307) on Thursday night (29.11.12). It was Hertha's final home game of the first half of the season.
After the superb 4-0 win at Aue last time out, Berlin coach Jos Luhukay was once again forced to make changes to his starting line-up: Injured Nico Schulz was replaced by fellow youngster Sami Allagui. In central midfield Peer Kluge returned to the side after missing the Aue game with a stomach bug. That meant that Fabian Lustenberger was able to revert to central defence alongside John Anthony Brooks.
Boycott of silence
The game began with an unusual atmosphere as both sets of fans protested possible DFL (German Football League) security concept proposals which will be discussed on December 12th. The football authorities have recently said that they might introduce seating only stadia in an effort to combat fan violence outside grounds this season. The protest was under the motto: "12 minutes and 12 seconds no chanting and no atmosphere." There were 12 minutes of almost total silence. The silence was almost broken early though as Ben Sahar nodded a cross wide of the far post after 2 minutes. Five minutes later Ronny forced a good save from visiting keeper Horn with a shot from 22 metres out. The east stand ended the boycott by getting behind the team in their ususal voiciferous manner. Hertha controlled the early stages, always looking for a chance to take the game to Köln.
On 29 minutes a sweet through ball from Ronny found Adrian Ramos who passed into the Köln area where Ben Sahar was lurking. Sahar could only look on in horror as his shot rebounded off the right hand post with Horn beaten. Then the visitors struck out of the blue, as a free kick from the right found Kevin McKenna unmarked at the far post, from where he easily nodded Köln ahead (35.). Hertha did not let that shock lead get them down. Allagui duped an opponent inside the Köln area but his shot was easy pickings for Horn (43.). Ronny went one better only a minute later. The Brazilian reached the edge of the area after leaving four opponents in his wake, before finishing well with a low shot into the bottom right hand corner to pull the home side level (44.). The game was nicely poised at 1-1 as the halftime whistle was blown.
Hertha dominate without penetration
Boosted by their equaliser on the stroke of halftime, the capital city side again took the game to the visitors as the second half got underway. Ramos had a shot blocked following a corner (47.), Ronny's thunderbolt from 25 metres out was deflected over the crossbar (50.), and Sahar's effort from a tight angle was turned around a post by Horn, although a corner was not given (52.). As soon as Hertha had the ball, Köln got everyone back in their own half which made life tough for the Berliners. Hertha's passing was not up to standard and they gave far too many balls needlessly away. Luhukay then brought on young striker Sandro Wagner for Ben Sahar hoping for a little more firepower up front. Shortly afterwards Czech Republic veteran Roman Hubnik replaced Kluge who was not fully fit following his stamina-sapping flu bug.
Köln mounted a rare counter attack ten minutes shy of full time, but home keeper Thomas Kraft who had almost nothing to do all game produced a superb block to deny former HSV man Miso Brecko. Köln boss Holger Stanislavski brought on former Hertha midfielder Sascha Bigalke, who was unable to breathe new life into his team. Two minutes from time the final chance of the game fell to Hertha as Hany Mukhtar (on for Ramos) found Hubnik handily placed inside the Köln box. The central defender fluffed his shot so the danger passed. In the end both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Berlin-Brandenbirg-derby up next
Hertha's impressive unbeaten record has now stretched to 14 games, ahead of their round 17 trip to Energie Cottbus on Monday (03.12.12).
After the superb 4-0 win at Aue last time out, Berlin coach Jos Luhukay was once again forced to make changes to his starting line-up: Injured Nico Schulz was replaced by fellow youngster Sami Allagui. In central midfield Peer Kluge returned to the side after missing the Aue game with a stomach bug. That meant that Fabian Lustenberger was able to revert to central defence alongside John Anthony Brooks.
Boycott of silence
The game began with an unusual atmosphere as both sets of fans protested possible DFL (German Football League) security concept proposals which will be discussed on December 12th. The football authorities have recently said that they might introduce seating only stadia in an effort to combat fan violence outside grounds this season. The protest was under the motto: "12 minutes and 12 seconds no chanting and no atmosphere." There were 12 minutes of almost total silence. The silence was almost broken early though as Ben Sahar nodded a cross wide of the far post after 2 minutes. Five minutes later Ronny forced a good save from visiting keeper Horn with a shot from 22 metres out. The east stand ended the boycott by getting behind the team in their ususal voiciferous manner. Hertha controlled the early stages, always looking for a chance to take the game to Köln.
On 29 minutes a sweet through ball from Ronny found Adrian Ramos who passed into the Köln area where Ben Sahar was lurking. Sahar could only look on in horror as his shot rebounded off the right hand post with Horn beaten. Then the visitors struck out of the blue, as a free kick from the right found Kevin McKenna unmarked at the far post, from where he easily nodded Köln ahead (35.). Hertha did not let that shock lead get them down. Allagui duped an opponent inside the Köln area but his shot was easy pickings for Horn (43.). Ronny went one better only a minute later. The Brazilian reached the edge of the area after leaving four opponents in his wake, before finishing well with a low shot into the bottom right hand corner to pull the home side level (44.). The game was nicely poised at 1-1 as the halftime whistle was blown.
Hertha dominate without penetration
Boosted by their equaliser on the stroke of halftime, the capital city side again took the game to the visitors as the second half got underway. Ramos had a shot blocked following a corner (47.), Ronny's thunderbolt from 25 metres out was deflected over the crossbar (50.), and Sahar's effort from a tight angle was turned around a post by Horn, although a corner was not given (52.). As soon as Hertha had the ball, Köln got everyone back in their own half which made life tough for the Berliners. Hertha's passing was not up to standard and they gave far too many balls needlessly away. Luhukay then brought on young striker Sandro Wagner for Ben Sahar hoping for a little more firepower up front. Shortly afterwards Czech Republic veteran Roman Hubnik replaced Kluge who was not fully fit following his stamina-sapping flu bug.
Köln mounted a rare counter attack ten minutes shy of full time, but home keeper Thomas Kraft who had almost nothing to do all game produced a superb block to deny former HSV man Miso Brecko. Köln boss Holger Stanislavski brought on former Hertha midfielder Sascha Bigalke, who was unable to breathe new life into his team. Two minutes from time the final chance of the game fell to Hertha as Hany Mukhtar (on for Ramos) found Hubnik handily placed inside the Köln box. The central defender fluffed his shot so the danger passed. In the end both sides had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Berlin-Brandenbirg-derby up next
Hertha's impressive unbeaten record has now stretched to 14 games, ahead of their round 17 trip to Energie Cottbus on Monday (03.12.12).