Teams | February 12, 2013 at 12:43 PM
Hertha BSC late leveller in Berlin derby
Hertha BSC late leveller in Berlin derby
After going two goals behind, Hertha showed charachter by fighting back to 2-2.
The tradition-steeped Olympic stadium was full to the brim with 74,244 on Monday night (11.02.13). Hertha entertained cross-town rivals Union Berlin in a Bundesliga 2 matchday 21 encounter. Union took a two goal lead, but the home side showed great character to fight their way back to level terms. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. Hertha missed a chance to go top of the table.
Fabian Holland was missing through suspension after collecting a fifth booking away to Regensburg last time out. As expected Felix Bastians replaced him at left back. Peter Pekarik was preferred to Sahar, which meant that Ndjeng played in right midfield, while Allagui operated down the left. On the good news side Levan Kobiashvili (suspension), Änis Ben-Hatira (injury) and Alfredo Morales (reserves) all made the squad. Hertha boss Jos Luhukay banned both Maik Franz and Pierre-Michel Lasogga from the squad for an altercation during training. Others left out of the squad were Mukhtar, Knoll, Janker and Schulz.
Early setback for Luhukay and Co.
The atmosphere inside the sold out Olympic stadium was amazing, but could the game live up to all of the pre-match hype? The visitors made the brighter start, and on 5 minutes home keeper Thomas Kraft was called into action for the first time to deal with a cross from the right by Patrick Zoundi. Kraft just reached the ball ahead of Adam Nemec. Only four minutes later the home side failed to properly clear their lines. Simon Terodde set the ball up for Torsten Mattuschka, whose shot was blocked, but Terodde struck the rebound on the turn into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead (9.). Hertha tried to strike back right away. A 30 metre free kick by Ronny could only be punched out with both fists from Union stopper Daniel Haas. Sadly there was no Hertha player close enough to take advantage.
Hertha began to assume control and a further shot by Ronny from distance was deflected and fizzed just wide of the left hand post for a corner which failed to threaten Union (23.). The home side lacked the final telling pass to split Union's defence and the majority of the crowd began to get a little agitated. After half an hour Adrian Ramos broke down the right and crossed into the box where the unmarked Allagui could only place his header into the grateful arms of Union keeper Haas (33.). Five minutes later Hertha threatened again, as a cross by Ndjeng found the head of Allagui who nodded the ball narrowly wide of goal. In truth the Hertha striker was rightly given offside. On the stroke of halftime central defender John Anthony Brooks tried his luck from didstance, but his shot flew well over the crosbar. Union led 1-0 at the break.
Kobiashvili celebrates comeback
Levan Kobiashvili replaced Bastians at the start of the second half. It was the fist game in around six months for the veteran Georgian after his half-season-long suspension following the play off defeat to Düsseldorf at the end of last season. As was the case in the first half, Union made the better start and doubled their lead after 49 minutes. Following a corner Mattuschka crossed to Nemec, who nodded the ball home from close range. Seconds later Allagui once again failed to convert a ball floated in by Ndjeng. On the hour mark Peer Kluge let fly with a fierce shot and Ramos lurking at the far post missed the ball by a mere whisker. Luhukay had seen enough and made a double substitution, bringing on more firepower with Änis Ben-Hatira and Sandro Wagner at the expense of Allagui and Kluge. Christoph Menz tested his own keeper following a cross by Ramos, but Haas was up to the situation and cleared the danger (68.).
Hertha's efforts were finally rewarded as ramos scored his 8th goal of the season, nodding a Ronny corner into the back of the net just under the crossbar (73.). A few minutes later Ben-Hatira broke into the Union box from the right, but pulled his shot wide from an acute angle (77.). Five minutes later Wagner was brought down and Hertha were rightly awarded a free kick som 25 metres out. Up stepped Ronny to fire the ball perfectly into the bottom right hand corner of the Union net with Haas groping at air (85.). 2-2! Hertha continued to attack but there were no further goals to celebrate as the game ended 2-2.
Next up: Aalen
Luhukay's team showed good charachter by fighting their way back from a two goal deficit. Next Saturday (16.02.13) VfR Aalen entertain Hertha in a matchday 22 encounter.
Fabian Holland was missing through suspension after collecting a fifth booking away to Regensburg last time out. As expected Felix Bastians replaced him at left back. Peter Pekarik was preferred to Sahar, which meant that Ndjeng played in right midfield, while Allagui operated down the left. On the good news side Levan Kobiashvili (suspension), Änis Ben-Hatira (injury) and Alfredo Morales (reserves) all made the squad. Hertha boss Jos Luhukay banned both Maik Franz and Pierre-Michel Lasogga from the squad for an altercation during training. Others left out of the squad were Mukhtar, Knoll, Janker and Schulz.
Early setback for Luhukay and Co.
The atmosphere inside the sold out Olympic stadium was amazing, but could the game live up to all of the pre-match hype? The visitors made the brighter start, and on 5 minutes home keeper Thomas Kraft was called into action for the first time to deal with a cross from the right by Patrick Zoundi. Kraft just reached the ball ahead of Adam Nemec. Only four minutes later the home side failed to properly clear their lines. Simon Terodde set the ball up for Torsten Mattuschka, whose shot was blocked, but Terodde struck the rebound on the turn into the back of the net to give the visitors the lead (9.). Hertha tried to strike back right away. A 30 metre free kick by Ronny could only be punched out with both fists from Union stopper Daniel Haas. Sadly there was no Hertha player close enough to take advantage.
Hertha began to assume control and a further shot by Ronny from distance was deflected and fizzed just wide of the left hand post for a corner which failed to threaten Union (23.). The home side lacked the final telling pass to split Union's defence and the majority of the crowd began to get a little agitated. After half an hour Adrian Ramos broke down the right and crossed into the box where the unmarked Allagui could only place his header into the grateful arms of Union keeper Haas (33.). Five minutes later Hertha threatened again, as a cross by Ndjeng found the head of Allagui who nodded the ball narrowly wide of goal. In truth the Hertha striker was rightly given offside. On the stroke of halftime central defender John Anthony Brooks tried his luck from didstance, but his shot flew well over the crosbar. Union led 1-0 at the break.
Kobiashvili celebrates comeback
Levan Kobiashvili replaced Bastians at the start of the second half. It was the fist game in around six months for the veteran Georgian after his half-season-long suspension following the play off defeat to Düsseldorf at the end of last season. As was the case in the first half, Union made the better start and doubled their lead after 49 minutes. Following a corner Mattuschka crossed to Nemec, who nodded the ball home from close range. Seconds later Allagui once again failed to convert a ball floated in by Ndjeng. On the hour mark Peer Kluge let fly with a fierce shot and Ramos lurking at the far post missed the ball by a mere whisker. Luhukay had seen enough and made a double substitution, bringing on more firepower with Änis Ben-Hatira and Sandro Wagner at the expense of Allagui and Kluge. Christoph Menz tested his own keeper following a cross by Ramos, but Haas was up to the situation and cleared the danger (68.).
Hertha's efforts were finally rewarded as ramos scored his 8th goal of the season, nodding a Ronny corner into the back of the net just under the crossbar (73.). A few minutes later Ben-Hatira broke into the Union box from the right, but pulled his shot wide from an acute angle (77.). Five minutes later Wagner was brought down and Hertha were rightly awarded a free kick som 25 metres out. Up stepped Ronny to fire the ball perfectly into the bottom right hand corner of the Union net with Haas groping at air (85.). 2-2! Hertha continued to attack but there were no further goals to celebrate as the game ended 2-2.
Next up: Aalen
Luhukay's team showed good charachter by fighting their way back from a two goal deficit. Next Saturday (16.02.13) VfR Aalen entertain Hertha in a matchday 22 encounter.