Teams | December 10, 2012 at 11:08 AM
Winning start to second half of season
Winning start to second half of season
Adrian Ramos scored the only goal of the game on 65 minutes.
Hertha made a winning start to the second half of the season by beating SC Paderborn 1-0, in front of 9,416 at the Benteler Arena on Saturday afternoon (08.12.12). The mostly scrappy game was decided by a goal by Adrian Ramos midway through the second half
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay made just one change to the team which won the Berlin-Brandenburg-Derby at Cottbus last Monday night: Fit again Adrian Ramos replaced Sandro Wagner up front.
Dull start
Once again the fans remained silent for the opening twelve minutes as part of the nationwide protest we have already reported on. As the boycott ended and the fans came to life so did the game. Thomas Bertels forced a good save out of Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft as he got on the end of a curling free kick (13.). The home side were not taking any prisoners in their tackles, and Daniel Brückner and Deniz Yilmaz were both booked early on. The first Hertha chance came from a set piece. Marcel Ndjeng tried his with a direct free kick luck from almost the sideline, but home keeper Daniel Lück somehow managed to stop the ball from going into the top right hand corner of his net (27.).
The game remained scrappy as both sides struggled to come up with ideas of how to breach each others defence. Ndjeng was fed by Ramos on the right edge of the Paderborn box, but Hertha's number eight failed to connect properly with a volley which never threated the home goal (37.). Then Sami Allagui tried to chip the keeper, but Lück just reached the ball in time to clear the danger (39.). On the stroke of halftime Vrancic was played into space by Bertels and found himself advancing on Kraft alone. But he failed to control the ball and a good chance was missed. At the other end Manuel Zeitz deflected a ball towards his own goal. Luckily for the home side Lück was on his toes to deal with the situation (45.). The first half ended 0-0.
Hertha with more ball after the break
Both sides emerged for the second half unchanged, and Hertha had more of the ball than was the case before the break. Set up by Ramos, Ben Sahar contolled the ball on his chest before firing a shot narrowly wide of the far post (52.). Kraft was called upon to deal with a wickedly deflected shot from Alban Meha (59.). Then it was the turn of Ramos to shine. He received the ball inside the area, from where he left Manuel Gulde in his wake, before scoring with a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of Lück's net (65.). Moments later Luhukay brought on Marvin Knoll and Roman Hubnik for Ronny and Sahar.
The home side tried to take the game to the visitors but rarely threatened the Berlin defence, apart from a Meha shot from the edge of the box which struck the crossbar (80.). Hertha found themselves with more space to counter attack in. Peer Kluge crossed a good ball into Allagui, whose header was saved by Lück at the second attempt (83.). Three minutes later Kraft punched a long range Meha effort out of the danger zone, ensuring that his side made a winning start to the second half of the season.
Crucial points cushion extended
Hertha took full advantage of third placed Kaiserslautern's loss at Union Berlin on Friday night. Hertha (second) now have a healthy seven point cushion over third place. League leaders Eintracht Braunschweig play away at 1.FC Köln on Monday night. Hertha are in action again on Saturday (15.12.12, 13.00 CET), as they entertain FSV Frankfurt at the Olympic stadium in the final game before the winter break.
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay made just one change to the team which won the Berlin-Brandenburg-Derby at Cottbus last Monday night: Fit again Adrian Ramos replaced Sandro Wagner up front.
Dull start
Once again the fans remained silent for the opening twelve minutes as part of the nationwide protest we have already reported on. As the boycott ended and the fans came to life so did the game. Thomas Bertels forced a good save out of Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft as he got on the end of a curling free kick (13.). The home side were not taking any prisoners in their tackles, and Daniel Brückner and Deniz Yilmaz were both booked early on. The first Hertha chance came from a set piece. Marcel Ndjeng tried his with a direct free kick luck from almost the sideline, but home keeper Daniel Lück somehow managed to stop the ball from going into the top right hand corner of his net (27.).
The game remained scrappy as both sides struggled to come up with ideas of how to breach each others defence. Ndjeng was fed by Ramos on the right edge of the Paderborn box, but Hertha's number eight failed to connect properly with a volley which never threated the home goal (37.). Then Sami Allagui tried to chip the keeper, but Lück just reached the ball in time to clear the danger (39.). On the stroke of halftime Vrancic was played into space by Bertels and found himself advancing on Kraft alone. But he failed to control the ball and a good chance was missed. At the other end Manuel Zeitz deflected a ball towards his own goal. Luckily for the home side Lück was on his toes to deal with the situation (45.). The first half ended 0-0.
Hertha with more ball after the break
Both sides emerged for the second half unchanged, and Hertha had more of the ball than was the case before the break. Set up by Ramos, Ben Sahar contolled the ball on his chest before firing a shot narrowly wide of the far post (52.). Kraft was called upon to deal with a wickedly deflected shot from Alban Meha (59.). Then it was the turn of Ramos to shine. He received the ball inside the area, from where he left Manuel Gulde in his wake, before scoring with a low shot into the bottom left hand corner of Lück's net (65.). Moments later Luhukay brought on Marvin Knoll and Roman Hubnik for Ronny and Sahar.
The home side tried to take the game to the visitors but rarely threatened the Berlin defence, apart from a Meha shot from the edge of the box which struck the crossbar (80.). Hertha found themselves with more space to counter attack in. Peer Kluge crossed a good ball into Allagui, whose header was saved by Lück at the second attempt (83.). Three minutes later Kraft punched a long range Meha effort out of the danger zone, ensuring that his side made a winning start to the second half of the season.
Crucial points cushion extended
Hertha took full advantage of third placed Kaiserslautern's loss at Union Berlin on Friday night. Hertha (second) now have a healthy seven point cushion over third place. League leaders Eintracht Braunschweig play away at 1.FC Köln on Monday night. Hertha are in action again on Saturday (15.12.12, 13.00 CET), as they entertain FSV Frankfurt at the Olympic stadium in the final game before the winter break.