Youth | September 2, 2013 at 11:41 AM
Bitter! Hertha BSC lose in Wolfsburg
Bitter! Hertha BSC lose in Wolfsburg
VfL Wolfsburg beat Hertha BSC 2-0, thanks to goals from Ivica Olic and Diego.
Wolfsburg - Hertha BSC tasted defeat for the first time since winning promotion from Bundesliga 2 last season. Coach Jos Luhukay's men went down 0-2 to VfL Wolfsburg, at the Volkswagen-Arena on Bundesliga matchday 4 on Saturday afternoon (31.08.13). Wolfsburg's goals came from Croatian hit man Ivica Olic and Brazilian playmaker Diego.
„Never change a winning team“ was Jos Luhukay's motto of the day as he fielded the exact same eleven which beat HSV 1-0 at home last time out. Thomas Kraft was as always in goal. In front of him were Peter Pekarik, Sebastian Langkamp, John Anthony Brooks and Nico Schulz. The defensive midfield duo consisted of Hajime Hosogai and skipper Fabian Lustenberger. Sami Allagui and Änis Ben-Hatira, were on the wings, while Alexander Baumjohann pulled the strings in midfield, behind sole striker Adrian Ramos. Wolfsburg replaced their suspended summer mega-signing from Bayern Luiz Gustavo with Jan Polak.
Two blows just before the break
Hertha playing in their yellow/orange away strip found themselves in a tempo-filled encounter almost from the off. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, as Änis Ben-Hatira broke down the right from where he crossed into the middle where Sami Allagui was perfectly placed, but could only fire his left foot shot over the bar (3.). Wolfsburg had more of the ball but were at first unable to turn that advantage into useful goalmouth action. Hertha patiently waited to hit the home side on the break as soon as they won the ball.
As torrential rain set in, the visitors created their second decent chance after half an hour. Änis Ben-Hatira made his way down the left wing before producing a pinpoint cross onto the head of Adrian Ramos, who somehow headed over from point blank range. Then at the other end the „Wolves“ finally showed up in front of the goal being guarded by Kraft, as Perisic headed over a cross from Veirinha. Only moments later Diego found himself unmarked just inside the Berlin box, but could only drag his effort wide of the right hand upright (33.). The deadlock was finally broken a couple of minutes before the halftime whistle sounded. Naldo got a shot away and Olic scored with ease, mopping up from close range. 1-0 to the Wolves who struck again deep into injury time at the end of the opening half. Match referee Robert Hartmann saw a foul by Brooks on Diego and pointed to the penalty spot. The spot kick was coolly slotted home by Diego with the final kick of the half. Hertha were 0-2 down at halftime.
Goalless second half
Both teams came out for the second half unchanged. Moments after play resumed Diego could have made it 3-0 to the Wolves but failed to get any direction onto his header. Then at the other end Sebastian Langkamp fired a rebound over the bar. After an hour Luhukay brought on Sandro Wagner and Ronny for Sami Allagui and Änis Ben-Hatira. Hertha combined well as they more or less set up camp in the Wolfsburg half. But a goal just wouldn't come.
Wolfsburg could have extended their lead on 79 minutes by way of a Rodriguez free kick which fizzed narrowly past the right hand post. Hertha failed to create any more meaningful chances and Wolfsburg were content to keep the ball amongst themselves. Hertha lost the game 0-2 – their first Bndesliga defeat of the new season.
Next Bundesliga game in a fortnight
After the impending break for international games, Hertha entertain VfB Stuttgart at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Friday (13.09.13) in a matchday 5 encounter. That floodlit game kicks off at 20.30 CET.
„Never change a winning team“ was Jos Luhukay's motto of the day as he fielded the exact same eleven which beat HSV 1-0 at home last time out. Thomas Kraft was as always in goal. In front of him were Peter Pekarik, Sebastian Langkamp, John Anthony Brooks and Nico Schulz. The defensive midfield duo consisted of Hajime Hosogai and skipper Fabian Lustenberger. Sami Allagui and Änis Ben-Hatira, were on the wings, while Alexander Baumjohann pulled the strings in midfield, behind sole striker Adrian Ramos. Wolfsburg replaced their suspended summer mega-signing from Bayern Luiz Gustavo with Jan Polak.
Two blows just before the break
Hertha playing in their yellow/orange away strip found themselves in a tempo-filled encounter almost from the off. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors, as Änis Ben-Hatira broke down the right from where he crossed into the middle where Sami Allagui was perfectly placed, but could only fire his left foot shot over the bar (3.). Wolfsburg had more of the ball but were at first unable to turn that advantage into useful goalmouth action. Hertha patiently waited to hit the home side on the break as soon as they won the ball.
As torrential rain set in, the visitors created their second decent chance after half an hour. Änis Ben-Hatira made his way down the left wing before producing a pinpoint cross onto the head of Adrian Ramos, who somehow headed over from point blank range. Then at the other end the „Wolves“ finally showed up in front of the goal being guarded by Kraft, as Perisic headed over a cross from Veirinha. Only moments later Diego found himself unmarked just inside the Berlin box, but could only drag his effort wide of the right hand upright (33.). The deadlock was finally broken a couple of minutes before the halftime whistle sounded. Naldo got a shot away and Olic scored with ease, mopping up from close range. 1-0 to the Wolves who struck again deep into injury time at the end of the opening half. Match referee Robert Hartmann saw a foul by Brooks on Diego and pointed to the penalty spot. The spot kick was coolly slotted home by Diego with the final kick of the half. Hertha were 0-2 down at halftime.
Goalless second half
Both teams came out for the second half unchanged. Moments after play resumed Diego could have made it 3-0 to the Wolves but failed to get any direction onto his header. Then at the other end Sebastian Langkamp fired a rebound over the bar. After an hour Luhukay brought on Sandro Wagner and Ronny for Sami Allagui and Änis Ben-Hatira. Hertha combined well as they more or less set up camp in the Wolfsburg half. But a goal just wouldn't come.
Wolfsburg could have extended their lead on 79 minutes by way of a Rodriguez free kick which fizzed narrowly past the right hand post. Hertha failed to create any more meaningful chances and Wolfsburg were content to keep the ball amongst themselves. Hertha lost the game 0-2 – their first Bndesliga defeat of the new season.
Next Bundesliga game in a fortnight
After the impending break for international games, Hertha entertain VfB Stuttgart at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Friday (13.09.13) in a matchday 5 encounter. That floodlit game kicks off at 20.30 CET.