Teams | November 10, 2013 at 02:08 PM
Away win! Hertha triumph 3-2 in Hoffenheim
Away win! Hertha triumph 3-2 in Hoffenheim
Thomas Kraft and Adrian Ramos were the Hertha heroes in the 3-2 win away to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.
Sinsheim - Hertha BSC won their first Bundesliga away game of the season on Saturday afternoon (09.11.13), beating TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3-2 on matchday 12. Two Berliners stood out in an overall solid team performance. Keeper Thomas Kraft and Columbian hit man Adrian Ramos. Berlin coach Jos Luhukay made just one change to his side which lost 0-2 at home to Schalke last time out. Nico Schulz was replaced by Sami Allagui down the right. That meant that Änis Ben-Hatira reverted to the right of midfield while Per Skjelbred took up a central position. Hoffenheim began the game with Eugen Polanski and Tarek Elyounoussi instead of Herdling and Rudy.
The visitors took the game to their hosts from the opening whistle, which resulted in early chances for the Berliners. After winning possession in midfield Skjelbred fed Allagui, whose shot fizzed narrowly wide of target as did Ben-Hatira whose curling effort didn't miss by much (4.). Hertha went one better on 13 minutes. Ramos did well to win the ball in midfield from where he played a low ball into the area where Ben-Hatira was lurking to nail the ball under the crossbar to give Hertha the lead. More than deserved! Hertha continued to pressure the home side and almost doubled their lead only three minutes later, but unmarked Allagui failed to control the ball while unmarked and handily placed.
Hertha tight at the back
There was very little attacking play from the home side in the opening half. The Berlin defensive midfielders and defence usually nipped any impending possible danger in the bud. Former Hertha man Sejad Salihovic took two free kicks - the first of which was buried under his body by Kraft. The second was superbly saved by the Berlin stopper (26. + 30). Between those free kicks Hoffenheim were forced into a change as Abraham limped off injured to be replaced by Vestergaard in central defence. Hertha looked the more dangerous team all game. On 39 minutes the over 2,000 travelling Hertha fans were ready to celebrate again, as Skjelbred won the ball and found Ben-Hatira who crossed onto the head of Ramos whose header landed on top of the net instead of in it. The visitors took a slender but deserved 1-0 lead into halftime with them.
Hoffenheim emerged for the second half with more aggression, pinning Hertha back intheir own half at first. USA international Fabian Johnson came on after the break and immediately forced Kraft to spread himself to reduce the angle as he bore down on goal after being fed by Volland. Kraft then superbly saved an effort by Volland, which would have been ruled offside anyway. Then it was Hertha's turn again - and how! Ramos appeared to slip inside the Hoffenheim area and was awarded a penalty, which he coolly put away himself to double his side's lead (53.). Hoffenheim of course threw caution to the wind and threw everything forward, which gave Hertha more operating space. Skjelbred let fly from the edge of the box only to be denied by home keeper Casteels (58.). Then Johannes van den Bergh (playing his 50th Bundesliga game) cut the ball back from the by line, but Allagui fluffed the chance as it looked easier to score (59.).
Kraft and Ramos secure deserved victory
Hoffenheim brought on a further striker in Schipplock, who would soon be instrumental in his side's first goal. The striker went to ground inside the Hertha area under a challenge by Langkamp. Once again match referee Aytekin pointed to the spot. Up stepped Salihovic to send Kraft the wrong way as he pulled a goal back for the hosts (70.). Moments later Schipplock was involved again forcing Kraft to use all of his considerable frame to stop the striker from equalising. Hertha once again fell foul of a set piece as Hoffenheim clawed their way back to parity. Salihovic superby fired home a free kick from the edge of the area to make it 2-2 (80.). The game was however far from over! Only three minutes later Hertha restored their lead as Pekarik crossed from the right and Ramos rose like a salmon to nod the ball into the far corner to give his side the lead again. Late substitute Marcel Ndjeng missed a last minute chance to put the game to bed as the ball bobbled out of control after he had already rounded Hoffenheim's keeper (90.).
The fourth official help up his board stating that there would be five minutes of added time to play. Johnson was once again denied by Kraft (90. +1) with what was the last chance of a pulsating game. After the break for international games, Hertha entertain top three side Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 13. That game takes place on Saturday (23.11.13, 3.30 pm).
The visitors took the game to their hosts from the opening whistle, which resulted in early chances for the Berliners. After winning possession in midfield Skjelbred fed Allagui, whose shot fizzed narrowly wide of target as did Ben-Hatira whose curling effort didn't miss by much (4.). Hertha went one better on 13 minutes. Ramos did well to win the ball in midfield from where he played a low ball into the area where Ben-Hatira was lurking to nail the ball under the crossbar to give Hertha the lead. More than deserved! Hertha continued to pressure the home side and almost doubled their lead only three minutes later, but unmarked Allagui failed to control the ball while unmarked and handily placed.
Hertha tight at the back
There was very little attacking play from the home side in the opening half. The Berlin defensive midfielders and defence usually nipped any impending possible danger in the bud. Former Hertha man Sejad Salihovic took two free kicks - the first of which was buried under his body by Kraft. The second was superbly saved by the Berlin stopper (26. + 30). Between those free kicks Hoffenheim were forced into a change as Abraham limped off injured to be replaced by Vestergaard in central defence. Hertha looked the more dangerous team all game. On 39 minutes the over 2,000 travelling Hertha fans were ready to celebrate again, as Skjelbred won the ball and found Ben-Hatira who crossed onto the head of Ramos whose header landed on top of the net instead of in it. The visitors took a slender but deserved 1-0 lead into halftime with them.
Hoffenheim emerged for the second half with more aggression, pinning Hertha back intheir own half at first. USA international Fabian Johnson came on after the break and immediately forced Kraft to spread himself to reduce the angle as he bore down on goal after being fed by Volland. Kraft then superbly saved an effort by Volland, which would have been ruled offside anyway. Then it was Hertha's turn again - and how! Ramos appeared to slip inside the Hoffenheim area and was awarded a penalty, which he coolly put away himself to double his side's lead (53.). Hoffenheim of course threw caution to the wind and threw everything forward, which gave Hertha more operating space. Skjelbred let fly from the edge of the box only to be denied by home keeper Casteels (58.). Then Johannes van den Bergh (playing his 50th Bundesliga game) cut the ball back from the by line, but Allagui fluffed the chance as it looked easier to score (59.).
Kraft and Ramos secure deserved victory
Hoffenheim brought on a further striker in Schipplock, who would soon be instrumental in his side's first goal. The striker went to ground inside the Hertha area under a challenge by Langkamp. Once again match referee Aytekin pointed to the spot. Up stepped Salihovic to send Kraft the wrong way as he pulled a goal back for the hosts (70.). Moments later Schipplock was involved again forcing Kraft to use all of his considerable frame to stop the striker from equalising. Hertha once again fell foul of a set piece as Hoffenheim clawed their way back to parity. Salihovic superby fired home a free kick from the edge of the area to make it 2-2 (80.). The game was however far from over! Only three minutes later Hertha restored their lead as Pekarik crossed from the right and Ramos rose like a salmon to nod the ball into the far corner to give his side the lead again. Late substitute Marcel Ndjeng missed a last minute chance to put the game to bed as the ball bobbled out of control after he had already rounded Hoffenheim's keeper (90.).
The fourth official help up his board stating that there would be five minutes of added time to play. Johnson was once again denied by Kraft (90. +1) with what was the last chance of a pulsating game. After the break for international games, Hertha entertain top three side Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 13. That game takes place on Saturday (23.11.13, 3.30 pm).