Teams | March 11, 2013 at 10:44 AM
Hertha BSC beat MSV Duisburg 4-2
Hertha BSC beat MSV Duisburg 4-2
Matchday 25 victory keeps Hertha BSC in top spot.
Berlin - After the ending of their 21-game unbeaten run in Dresden last weekend, Hertha BSC bounced back in style on Sunday afternoon (10.03.13), as they beat MSV Duisburg 4-2 in a matchday 25 clash played in front of 31,635 at the freezing cold Olympic stadium in Berlin. The victory saw Hertha move four points ahead of second placed Eintracht Braunschweig, who entertain third placed Kaiserslautern on Monday (11.03.13).
Berlin coach Jos Luhukay was forced to change his starting eleven for the visit of Duisburg: Marcel Ndjeng (torn hamstring), Alfredo Morales, Hany Mukhtar (both have flu) and goalkeeper Thomas Kraft (cold) were all unavailable for selection. Sascha Burchert got a rare start between the posts, while Sami Allagui replaced Ndjeng at right back. Ronny made a welcome return from a muscular problem.
Ramos strikes after cautious begin
Both sides tried to get forward during the opening exchanges, but neither could produce the final decisive pass to their front men, so it was hardly surprising that the opening goal came from a set piece. On 12 minutes Ronny curled a corner into the Duisburg box, where Adrian Rose above four markers to nod the ball over MSV keeper Felix Wiedwald and into the net. The Columbian hit man almost scored again a few minutes later, but failed to control an accurate pass from Nico Schulz (15.). Duisburg then began to venture forward, without it must be said threatening Burchert's goal. Hertha used the extra room to launch swift counter attacks. Hertha captain Peter Niemeyer won possession in midfield and fed Ronny, who found Peer Kluge. The ball was returned to Ronny on the edge of the Duisburg area, from where the Brazilian drilled a low shot past Wiedwald and into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his 13th goal of the season (24.).
It took the “Zebras” 35 minutes to threaten for the first time. A free kick by Kevin Wolze reached Sören Brady only five metres out, from where he somehow blasted the ball well wide of the far post. Shortly afterwards at the other end Sami Allagui passed to Peter Pekarik on the right wing. His cross found Schulz at the far post, but the youngster fired over while under pressure from a Duisburg defender (37.). The capital city side led 2-0 at the break.
Hertha find the right answer
Kluge remained in the changing rooms during the break after taking a knock to his right calf. Gritty veteran Maik Franz replaced him. Hertha began the half by creating the first scoring chance, as Allagui got onto the end of a crisp through ball, only to be denied by Wiedwald (47.). Two minutes later the home side failed to clear a ball properly, which allowed Brady to pull a goal back from a tight angle. That did not unsettle the home side who were determined to prove that the defeat in Dresden last week was just a hiccup. On 57 minutes an accurately taken free kick by Ronny landed at the feet of Allagui, who only had to stick his left boot out to make it 3-1 to Hertha. Allagui had another chance soon afterwards, but lost out in a one on one situation with the MSV keeper (59.).
Then Duisburg's goal scorer Brady scored again - this time at the wrong end. After nice approach work involving Ronny and Ramos the unlucky Zebra deflected an Allagui shot past his own keeper (64.). The visitors pulled another goal back on 72 minutes as Dustin Bomheuer nodded a corner home. Nine minutes from the end Allagui sent a shot narrowly wide of target after being set up by a fine cross from Pekarik. The game ended in a 4-2 Hertha victory.
After the Zebras Hertha now face Lions
On Saturday (16.03.13, 13.00 CET) travel south to face 1860 München who are known as the "Löwen" (Lions). That game takes place at the magnificent Allianz-Arena - home of might Bayern.
Berlin coach Jos Luhukay was forced to change his starting eleven for the visit of Duisburg: Marcel Ndjeng (torn hamstring), Alfredo Morales, Hany Mukhtar (both have flu) and goalkeeper Thomas Kraft (cold) were all unavailable for selection. Sascha Burchert got a rare start between the posts, while Sami Allagui replaced Ndjeng at right back. Ronny made a welcome return from a muscular problem.
Ramos strikes after cautious begin
Both sides tried to get forward during the opening exchanges, but neither could produce the final decisive pass to their front men, so it was hardly surprising that the opening goal came from a set piece. On 12 minutes Ronny curled a corner into the Duisburg box, where Adrian Rose above four markers to nod the ball over MSV keeper Felix Wiedwald and into the net. The Columbian hit man almost scored again a few minutes later, but failed to control an accurate pass from Nico Schulz (15.). Duisburg then began to venture forward, without it must be said threatening Burchert's goal. Hertha used the extra room to launch swift counter attacks. Hertha captain Peter Niemeyer won possession in midfield and fed Ronny, who found Peer Kluge. The ball was returned to Ronny on the edge of the Duisburg area, from where the Brazilian drilled a low shot past Wiedwald and into the bottom right hand corner of the net for his 13th goal of the season (24.).
It took the “Zebras” 35 minutes to threaten for the first time. A free kick by Kevin Wolze reached Sören Brady only five metres out, from where he somehow blasted the ball well wide of the far post. Shortly afterwards at the other end Sami Allagui passed to Peter Pekarik on the right wing. His cross found Schulz at the far post, but the youngster fired over while under pressure from a Duisburg defender (37.). The capital city side led 2-0 at the break.
Hertha find the right answer
Kluge remained in the changing rooms during the break after taking a knock to his right calf. Gritty veteran Maik Franz replaced him. Hertha began the half by creating the first scoring chance, as Allagui got onto the end of a crisp through ball, only to be denied by Wiedwald (47.). Two minutes later the home side failed to clear a ball properly, which allowed Brady to pull a goal back from a tight angle. That did not unsettle the home side who were determined to prove that the defeat in Dresden last week was just a hiccup. On 57 minutes an accurately taken free kick by Ronny landed at the feet of Allagui, who only had to stick his left boot out to make it 3-1 to Hertha. Allagui had another chance soon afterwards, but lost out in a one on one situation with the MSV keeper (59.).
Then Duisburg's goal scorer Brady scored again - this time at the wrong end. After nice approach work involving Ronny and Ramos the unlucky Zebra deflected an Allagui shot past his own keeper (64.). The visitors pulled another goal back on 72 minutes as Dustin Bomheuer nodded a corner home. Nine minutes from the end Allagui sent a shot narrowly wide of target after being set up by a fine cross from Pekarik. The game ended in a 4-2 Hertha victory.
After the Zebras Hertha now face Lions
On Saturday (16.03.13, 13.00 CET) travel south to face 1860 München who are known as the "Löwen" (Lions). That game takes place at the magnificent Allianz-Arena - home of might Bayern.