Teams | September 23, 2013 at 02:21 AM
Hertha draw 1-1 in Freiburg
Hertha draw 1-1 in Freiburg
Hertha BSC collected a crucial away point on Sunday afternoon, drawing 1-1 away to Freiburg.
Freiburg - Hertha travelled down to the Black Forest region to take on SC Freiburg, at the sold out Mage-Solar-Stadion (23,200), on Bundesliga matchday 6 on Sunday afternoon (22.09.13). The capital city visitors came from a goal behind to draw the game 1-1.
Berlin coach Jos Luhukay made just a single change to his side which lost so unluckily at home to VfB Stuttgart last time out: Fit again Sebastian Langkamp lined up in central defence alongside John Anthony Brooks, while captain Fabian Lustenberger reverted back to his usual position in front of the back line. Summer signing Tolga Cigerci, who began against Stuttgart, never made the trip after sustaining bruising to his right ankle during the final pre-match training session. Freiburg began the game with Diagne and Freis instead of Krmas and Hanke. They were in Europa League action on Thursday (19.09.13), drawing 2-2 with Slovan Liberec.
Brooks forced off, Skjelbred opens his goal account
The home side made a dream start, taking the lead after only 6 minutes as Sebastian Freis played a defence-splitting pass to Admir Mehmedi, who rounded advancing Hertha keeper Thomas Kraft, before sliding the ball into an empty net. A few minutes later Hertha summer loan signing from HSV Per Celjan Skjelbred got a shot in from an acute angle but blazed the ball well over the crossbar (9.). Moments later Freiburg almost scored again as Jonathan Schmid played the ball back to the feet of Gelson Fernandes, whose shot was deflected to the left of goal for a corner which brought nothing. Then there was sad news for Hertha and their hordes of travelling fans. Brooks was forced off with an elbow injury following a collision with Fernandes. His place in the team went to former Freiburg veteran Levan Kobiashvili.
The game mostly got bogged down in midfield with neither side really able to make a mark in the final third. Ronny tried his luck from very long distance. His shot posed not problems for home keeper Oliver Baumann (25). Ronny was involved in his side's equaliser as his long throw deep into the Freiburg box was nudged home from close range by Skjelbred (38.). The game was nicely poiised at 1-1 at halftime.
Goalless second half
Both teams came out for the second half unchanged, but as was the case towards the end of the first, the visitors put the home side under pressure. The opening shot of the half came from Ronny but was easily dealt with by Baumann (48.). The Berliners struggled to take the game to their hosts who seemed content to sit back and wait to hit them on the break. After an hour though, Freiburg ventured forward again and a fine shot by Sebastian Kerk fizzed just over the Hertha bar (60.). Four minutes later Ronny let fly with a direct free kick which flew well past the left hand upright (64.).
Sami Allagui came on for Ronny with 20 minutes left and created a good opportunity almost right away. Allagui found Ramos with a cheeky back heel, but the Columbian failed to beat Baumann (74.). Kobiashvili then almost scored against his former club, but Baumann was on hand to tip the Georgian's shot around his post (82.). Freiburg could have stolen maximum points at the death too, after Fernandes latched onto a fine through ball which he reached ahead of Kraft. The Freiburg man then missed the target from the edge of the penalty area. A last minute corner saw Freiburg's Matthias Ginter head the ball wide of goal. The game ended in a 1.1 draw - just about a fair result on the balance of play.
Lautern in the cup then Mainz at home
The capital city side travel south again on Wednesday (25.09.13), as they visit the legendary Betzenberg stadium to lock horns with Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern in the second round of the 2013 DFB Cup. On Saturday (28.09.13) Luhukay and Co, have a Bundesliga matchday 7 tie at home to Mainz to contend with, That game kicks off at 15.30 CET at the Olympic stadium in the nation's capital.
Berlin coach Jos Luhukay made just a single change to his side which lost so unluckily at home to VfB Stuttgart last time out: Fit again Sebastian Langkamp lined up in central defence alongside John Anthony Brooks, while captain Fabian Lustenberger reverted back to his usual position in front of the back line. Summer signing Tolga Cigerci, who began against Stuttgart, never made the trip after sustaining bruising to his right ankle during the final pre-match training session. Freiburg began the game with Diagne and Freis instead of Krmas and Hanke. They were in Europa League action on Thursday (19.09.13), drawing 2-2 with Slovan Liberec.
Brooks forced off, Skjelbred opens his goal account
The home side made a dream start, taking the lead after only 6 minutes as Sebastian Freis played a defence-splitting pass to Admir Mehmedi, who rounded advancing Hertha keeper Thomas Kraft, before sliding the ball into an empty net. A few minutes later Hertha summer loan signing from HSV Per Celjan Skjelbred got a shot in from an acute angle but blazed the ball well over the crossbar (9.). Moments later Freiburg almost scored again as Jonathan Schmid played the ball back to the feet of Gelson Fernandes, whose shot was deflected to the left of goal for a corner which brought nothing. Then there was sad news for Hertha and their hordes of travelling fans. Brooks was forced off with an elbow injury following a collision with Fernandes. His place in the team went to former Freiburg veteran Levan Kobiashvili.
The game mostly got bogged down in midfield with neither side really able to make a mark in the final third. Ronny tried his luck from very long distance. His shot posed not problems for home keeper Oliver Baumann (25). Ronny was involved in his side's equaliser as his long throw deep into the Freiburg box was nudged home from close range by Skjelbred (38.). The game was nicely poiised at 1-1 at halftime.
Goalless second half
Both teams came out for the second half unchanged, but as was the case towards the end of the first, the visitors put the home side under pressure. The opening shot of the half came from Ronny but was easily dealt with by Baumann (48.). The Berliners struggled to take the game to their hosts who seemed content to sit back and wait to hit them on the break. After an hour though, Freiburg ventured forward again and a fine shot by Sebastian Kerk fizzed just over the Hertha bar (60.). Four minutes later Ronny let fly with a direct free kick which flew well past the left hand upright (64.).
Sami Allagui came on for Ronny with 20 minutes left and created a good opportunity almost right away. Allagui found Ramos with a cheeky back heel, but the Columbian failed to beat Baumann (74.). Kobiashvili then almost scored against his former club, but Baumann was on hand to tip the Georgian's shot around his post (82.). Freiburg could have stolen maximum points at the death too, after Fernandes latched onto a fine through ball which he reached ahead of Kraft. The Freiburg man then missed the target from the edge of the penalty area. A last minute corner saw Freiburg's Matthias Ginter head the ball wide of goal. The game ended in a 1.1 draw - just about a fair result on the balance of play.
Lautern in the cup then Mainz at home
The capital city side travel south again on Wednesday (25.09.13), as they visit the legendary Betzenberg stadium to lock horns with Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern in the second round of the 2013 DFB Cup. On Saturday (28.09.13) Luhukay and Co, have a Bundesliga matchday 7 tie at home to Mainz to contend with, That game kicks off at 15.30 CET at the Olympic stadium in the nation's capital.