Teams | April 28, 2013 at 09:29 PM
Hertha BSC grab late win at St. Pauli
Hertha BSC grab late win at St. Pauli
Ronny and Sandro Wagner turned things around late on.
Hertha BSC left it late to record a superb 3-2 victory away to Hamburg cult-minnows FC St. Pauli, in front of a sell out crowd at the tradition-steeped Millerntor Stadion, in a thrilling Bundesliga matchday 31 encounter on Sunday afternoon (28.04.13). The victory keeps Hertha on track for achieving their ambition of going up as champions after securing promotion to the Bundesliga last weekend.
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay had to do without the services of defensive duo Peter Pekarik (hamstring) and Peter Niemeyer (after effects of concussion). Peer kluge was also ruled out late on with an adductor problem. Marcel Ndjeng took over at right back, while Alfredo Morales and Fabian Lustenberger lined up in front of the back four. There was also a change in left midfield, with Änis Ben-Hatira getting the nod over Nico Schulz.
Strong visitors early on
The visitors took the initiative from the opening whistle. After four minutes Ronny forced home keeper Philipp Tschauner to turn a fierce shot from the edge of the box away for a corner. Ndjeng then fired just wide of the right hand post from 20 metres out (11.). Then a floated free kick by Ronny flew dangerously through the area and out of play (15.). Hertha were finally rewarded for their early endeavours as Adrian Ramos reached the ball first at the Pauli by line, from where he played the ball square across the face of goal to Sami Allagui, who had the simplest of tap ins at the far post to put the Berliners into the driving seat (23.).
Allagui tried his luck again with a bicycle kick which flew well over the crossbar (30.). The home side finally began to mount some attacks of their own. On 33 minutes Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft had to be on his guard to save an effort by Daniel Ginczek. Home coach Michael Fronzek had brought on Marius Ebbers as an extra striker during the opening half and he soon had a good chance to equalise, but could only blaze the ball over the bar while alone in front of goal (38.). Moments before the halftime whistle Pauli threatened again, as Kraft saved another Ginczek effort, and had to rely on his defenders to clear the rebound by Lennart Thy off the line. Moments later the ball landed at the feet of Ginczek again, but he was unable to beat Kraft from close range. Hertha led 1-0 at the break (45.).
Pauli take the lead
The visitors attacked the visitors from the off as both teams emerged for the second half unchanged. The visiting defence looked solid enough as they kept their Hamburg hosts at bay, while constantly looking for a chance to hit them on the break. During one of those attacks a fine cross by Morales found Allagui at the far post. Sadly the angle was too acute and a good chance was missed (58.). Two minutes later Ben Hatira won the ball, well inside the Pauli box, but could only look on in horror as his shot hit the crossbar (60.). The same thing happened to Ronny at a free kick on 64 minutes. At the other end the home side finally struck as Thy advanced into the Hertha area on the left from where he equalised with a fine low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net (66.).
Much to the delight of the capacity 29,063 - strong crowd (including 2,500 Hertha supporters), both teams threw caution to the wind as they went in search of an equaliser. Ginczek played a low pass to the far post where Ebbers missed the ball by a whisker. Then Thy let fly from the edge of the box, but Kraft got down in time diving to his right (70.). Hertha got forward whenever the chance arose. Ben-Hatira set up Ramos inside the area, but the Columbian striker failed to connect with the ball properly while handily placed only seven metres out (73.). Sandor Wagner came on for Ben-Hatira and almost immediately headed a Ronny corner over the bar (81.). Moments later the visitors were counting their lucky stars as an effort on the turn by the ever-dangerous Ginczek only struck the bar (82.).
Ronny and Wagner the late Hertha heroes
Ginczek went one better from the penalty spot on 85 minutes, after Kraft was a little late in an aerial duel with Pauli's Ebbers. Ginzec made no mistake giving his side the lead for the first time in the game. But Hertha struck back, and how! Ramos won the ball on the edge of Pauli's area from where he found Ronny, who scored his 17th goal of the season with a crisp shot which flew into the top right hand corner of the net (88.). 2-2! In the final minute Levan Kobiashvili planted a pinpoint cross onto the head of Wagner, who nodded the ball home past Tschauner to edge a real five goal thriller. What a game!
Hertha are in action again next Friday night (03.05.13), as they entertain FC Erzgebirge Aue in a Bundesliga 2 matchday 32 encounter which kicks off at 18.00 CET.
Hertha boss Jos Luhukay had to do without the services of defensive duo Peter Pekarik (hamstring) and Peter Niemeyer (after effects of concussion). Peer kluge was also ruled out late on with an adductor problem. Marcel Ndjeng took over at right back, while Alfredo Morales and Fabian Lustenberger lined up in front of the back four. There was also a change in left midfield, with Änis Ben-Hatira getting the nod over Nico Schulz.
Strong visitors early on
The visitors took the initiative from the opening whistle. After four minutes Ronny forced home keeper Philipp Tschauner to turn a fierce shot from the edge of the box away for a corner. Ndjeng then fired just wide of the right hand post from 20 metres out (11.). Then a floated free kick by Ronny flew dangerously through the area and out of play (15.). Hertha were finally rewarded for their early endeavours as Adrian Ramos reached the ball first at the Pauli by line, from where he played the ball square across the face of goal to Sami Allagui, who had the simplest of tap ins at the far post to put the Berliners into the driving seat (23.).
Allagui tried his luck again with a bicycle kick which flew well over the crossbar (30.). The home side finally began to mount some attacks of their own. On 33 minutes Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft had to be on his guard to save an effort by Daniel Ginczek. Home coach Michael Fronzek had brought on Marius Ebbers as an extra striker during the opening half and he soon had a good chance to equalise, but could only blaze the ball over the bar while alone in front of goal (38.). Moments before the halftime whistle Pauli threatened again, as Kraft saved another Ginczek effort, and had to rely on his defenders to clear the rebound by Lennart Thy off the line. Moments later the ball landed at the feet of Ginczek again, but he was unable to beat Kraft from close range. Hertha led 1-0 at the break (45.).
Pauli take the lead
The visitors attacked the visitors from the off as both teams emerged for the second half unchanged. The visiting defence looked solid enough as they kept their Hamburg hosts at bay, while constantly looking for a chance to hit them on the break. During one of those attacks a fine cross by Morales found Allagui at the far post. Sadly the angle was too acute and a good chance was missed (58.). Two minutes later Ben Hatira won the ball, well inside the Pauli box, but could only look on in horror as his shot hit the crossbar (60.). The same thing happened to Ronny at a free kick on 64 minutes. At the other end the home side finally struck as Thy advanced into the Hertha area on the left from where he equalised with a fine low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net (66.).
Much to the delight of the capacity 29,063 - strong crowd (including 2,500 Hertha supporters), both teams threw caution to the wind as they went in search of an equaliser. Ginczek played a low pass to the far post where Ebbers missed the ball by a whisker. Then Thy let fly from the edge of the box, but Kraft got down in time diving to his right (70.). Hertha got forward whenever the chance arose. Ben-Hatira set up Ramos inside the area, but the Columbian striker failed to connect with the ball properly while handily placed only seven metres out (73.). Sandor Wagner came on for Ben-Hatira and almost immediately headed a Ronny corner over the bar (81.). Moments later the visitors were counting their lucky stars as an effort on the turn by the ever-dangerous Ginczek only struck the bar (82.).
Ronny and Wagner the late Hertha heroes
Ginczek went one better from the penalty spot on 85 minutes, after Kraft was a little late in an aerial duel with Pauli's Ebbers. Ginzec made no mistake giving his side the lead for the first time in the game. But Hertha struck back, and how! Ramos won the ball on the edge of Pauli's area from where he found Ronny, who scored his 17th goal of the season with a crisp shot which flew into the top right hand corner of the net (88.). 2-2! In the final minute Levan Kobiashvili planted a pinpoint cross onto the head of Wagner, who nodded the ball home past Tschauner to edge a real five goal thriller. What a game!
Hertha are in action again next Friday night (03.05.13), as they entertain FC Erzgebirge Aue in a Bundesliga 2 matchday 32 encounter which kicks off at 18.00 CET.