Teams | February 8, 2013 at 11:46 AM
Fine end to 2012
Fine end to 2012
Hertha's 2-1 home win over FSV Frankfurt, saw them take top spot in the table, at least until Monday.
Hertha entertained FSV Frankfurt on Bundesliga 2 matchday 19 on Saturday (15.12.12). The visitors took the lead early in the second half, but the home side fought back through late goals by Ndjeng and Ronny to win 2-1.
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay kept faith with the team which won 1-0 at SC Paderborn last time out. Young striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga who turned 21 on the day of the FSV visit to Berlin, looked on from the stands. Other players to miss out were: Pekarik, Franz, Janker, Schulz, Beichler and Ben-Hatira.
Hertha chance within 10 seconds
Hertha could have opened the scoring after only eight seconds, as direct from the kick off Sami Allagui played in Peer Kluge, who pushed the ball past the post while unmarked from just inside the area. Not long afterwards Allagui was involved again as he did well down the right wing from where he played a square ball to Ronny. Hertha's top scoring Brazilian's shot from the edge of the box was blocked in the nick of time by Yannick Stark (5.). The visitors got everyone behind the ball when Hertha had possession, making it almost impossible for the home side to breach their defences.
Hertha began to get a better hold on matters midway through the opening half. After playing a nice one two on the right wing, Adrian Ramos played the ball into the FSV area but found no takers (23.). Then Peer Kluge did well to win the ball in midfield before finding Ben Sahar, whose shot from 20 metres out flew well over the bar (24.). After half an hour the visitors - the only team to beat Hertha in the league so far this season - began to tentatively venture forward. Edmond Kapllani let fly from outside the area but was well wide of target. Moments later Allagui found Ramos down the right. The effort by the Columbian from an acute angle fizzed just wide of the far post (33.). Shortly before halftime Felix Bastians played a superb diagonal ball into the area, but Allagui lurking at the far post was ruled offside (43.). There were no goals in the first half.
Ndjeng and Ronny turn things around
Frankfurt had the best opening chance after the break, as Mathew Leckie latched onto a defence-splitting pass to find himself advancing on home keeper Thomas Kraft alone. The Berlin stopper kept his cool though, and averted the danger with a well-timed challenge (49.). Not long afterwards Frankfurt's Michael Görlitz found the ball at his feet after it had hit Hertha's defensive wall after a free kick. Görlitz let fly and his deflected shot beat Kraft to put the visiotrs in front (55.). Jos Luhukay reacted right away by bringing on youngsters Hany Mukhtar and Elias Kachunga for Ben Sahar and Sami Allagui. Hertha began to control the game again. A long distance free kick by Ronny from 30 metres failed to threaten the Frankfurt goal (60.), before a Niemeyer shot was parried forward by FSV stopper Patric Klandt, who needed two attempts to gather the ball (63.).
Hertha fans must have been thinking it was going to be one of those days after Marcel Ndjeng was wrongly ruled offside after setting up Mukhtar, who could have scored blindfolded (68.). Ronny then sent a free kick from outside the box harmlessly into the arms of FSV keeper Klandt (73.). Kachunga went on to nod a pinpoint cross wide of goal (76.). But Hertha were not to be denied and were in no mood to end their fine 16-game unbeaten run. A quickly taken free kick on the right edge of the area saw Ndjeng sneak behind the visiting defence to equalise from close range. The goal was allowed to stand despite furious protests from Frankfurt (81.). Only 3 minutes later the majority of the 29,851-strong crowd were sent into raptures of joy as Hertha's defensive kingpin Fabian Lustenberger joined the attack and set up Ronny who was just outside the area. The Brazilian let fly with a low left foot effort which flew into the net to record his ninth goal of the season (84.). In his previous two seasons in Berlin, Ronny had scored only twice.
Frankfurt threw everything forward, but Hertha's defence remained tight to hang onto a well-deserved win which sent them to the top of the table, at least until Monday. That day, Eintracht Braunschweig entertain Hertha's cross-town rivals Union Berlin. Should Union take something from that game, Hertha will spend the winter break in top spot. The capital city side are in action again on February 3rd 2013, as they take on Jahn Regensburg away from home on matchday 20.
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay kept faith with the team which won 1-0 at SC Paderborn last time out. Young striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga who turned 21 on the day of the FSV visit to Berlin, looked on from the stands. Other players to miss out were: Pekarik, Franz, Janker, Schulz, Beichler and Ben-Hatira.
Hertha chance within 10 seconds
Hertha could have opened the scoring after only eight seconds, as direct from the kick off Sami Allagui played in Peer Kluge, who pushed the ball past the post while unmarked from just inside the area. Not long afterwards Allagui was involved again as he did well down the right wing from where he played a square ball to Ronny. Hertha's top scoring Brazilian's shot from the edge of the box was blocked in the nick of time by Yannick Stark (5.). The visitors got everyone behind the ball when Hertha had possession, making it almost impossible for the home side to breach their defences.
Hertha began to get a better hold on matters midway through the opening half. After playing a nice one two on the right wing, Adrian Ramos played the ball into the FSV area but found no takers (23.). Then Peer Kluge did well to win the ball in midfield before finding Ben Sahar, whose shot from 20 metres out flew well over the bar (24.). After half an hour the visitors - the only team to beat Hertha in the league so far this season - began to tentatively venture forward. Edmond Kapllani let fly from outside the area but was well wide of target. Moments later Allagui found Ramos down the right. The effort by the Columbian from an acute angle fizzed just wide of the far post (33.). Shortly before halftime Felix Bastians played a superb diagonal ball into the area, but Allagui lurking at the far post was ruled offside (43.). There were no goals in the first half.
Ndjeng and Ronny turn things around
Frankfurt had the best opening chance after the break, as Mathew Leckie latched onto a defence-splitting pass to find himself advancing on home keeper Thomas Kraft alone. The Berlin stopper kept his cool though, and averted the danger with a well-timed challenge (49.). Not long afterwards Frankfurt's Michael Görlitz found the ball at his feet after it had hit Hertha's defensive wall after a free kick. Görlitz let fly and his deflected shot beat Kraft to put the visiotrs in front (55.). Jos Luhukay reacted right away by bringing on youngsters Hany Mukhtar and Elias Kachunga for Ben Sahar and Sami Allagui. Hertha began to control the game again. A long distance free kick by Ronny from 30 metres failed to threaten the Frankfurt goal (60.), before a Niemeyer shot was parried forward by FSV stopper Patric Klandt, who needed two attempts to gather the ball (63.).
Hertha fans must have been thinking it was going to be one of those days after Marcel Ndjeng was wrongly ruled offside after setting up Mukhtar, who could have scored blindfolded (68.). Ronny then sent a free kick from outside the box harmlessly into the arms of FSV keeper Klandt (73.). Kachunga went on to nod a pinpoint cross wide of goal (76.). But Hertha were not to be denied and were in no mood to end their fine 16-game unbeaten run. A quickly taken free kick on the right edge of the area saw Ndjeng sneak behind the visiting defence to equalise from close range. The goal was allowed to stand despite furious protests from Frankfurt (81.). Only 3 minutes later the majority of the 29,851-strong crowd were sent into raptures of joy as Hertha's defensive kingpin Fabian Lustenberger joined the attack and set up Ronny who was just outside the area. The Brazilian let fly with a low left foot effort which flew into the net to record his ninth goal of the season (84.). In his previous two seasons in Berlin, Ronny had scored only twice.
Frankfurt threw everything forward, but Hertha's defence remained tight to hang onto a well-deserved win which sent them to the top of the table, at least until Monday. That day, Eintracht Braunschweig entertain Hertha's cross-town rivals Union Berlin. Should Union take something from that game, Hertha will spend the winter break in top spot. The capital city side are in action again on February 3rd 2013, as they take on Jahn Regensburg away from home on matchday 20.