Teams | March 3, 2014 at 07:43 PM
0-0 draw with Freiburg
0-0 draw with Freiburg
Spoils were shared after what was a dull matchday 23 encounter.
Berlin - On Friday evening (28.02.14), Bundesliga matchday 23 opened as Hertha hosted SC Freiburg under the floodlights at the Olympic stadium in Berlin. A crowd of 37,920 saw both sides lack ideas up front, and the game (almost void of goalmouth action) ended in a goalless draw. After winning 2-1 away at Stuttgart last time out Berlin coach Jos Luhukay made just one change to that line-up, with Änis Ben-Hatira given the nod over Schulz out wide on the left. Columbian forward Adrian Ramos recovered in time from his bruised calf to start the game. Luhukay opted for a similar playing system to the one which won the day last weekend, with Sami Allagui playing as a second striker in front of a four man midfield. Visiting coach Christian Streich made two changes to the team which lost 2-4 to Augsburg last time out, with Karim Guédé and Julian Schuster replacing Felix Klaus and Immanuel Höhn.
Hertha seemed motivated enough as proceedings got underway. Within the opening minute Allagui let fly from the edge of the box, only to watch his effort fizz past the left hand upright. Freiburg also tried to press forward led mainly by danger man Admir Mehmedi, whose first shot from 20 metres out failed to trouble home keeper Thomas Kraft (8.). Kraft was on hand again four minutes later as Mehmedi got a shot away from only 7 metres out. The goal would not have counted had they scored because the flag had already been raised (12). Hertha had more of the ball but seemed a little short of ideas what to do with it.
Too harmless up front
Hertha combined well enough but always seemed to lack a final telling pass to the front line. Freiburg just about cleared the danger as Ramos loomed inside their box hoping to latch onto a ball played in low from the right (29.). Then the Bundesliga joint top scorer was fouled and Tolga Cigerci floated the resulting free kick into the Freiburg box, where Allagui could only head the ball wide of target (36.) Hajime Hosogai tried a long distance shot which flew well wide of goal (42.) Moments later Kraft once again denied Mehmedi as the Freiburg man threatened (43.). On the stroke of what turned out to be a goalless opening half, Marcel Ndjeng bore down alone on Freiburg keeper Oliver Baumann, but the Hertha mad failed to get enough control on the ball.
What action there3 was after the break usually was in Freiburg's half. Once again the midfield spark was missed by the home side. Freiburg's Mehmedi had the opening chance of the half, getting his head to a cross from the right. Once again though Kraft stood in his way easily dealing with the danger (54.). At the other end Ramos narrowly failed to reach a low cross into the box by Pekarik from the right wing (58.). Luhukay had seen enough and brought on Per Skjelbred für Ndjeng, hoping to freshen things up front. The Dutchman was then forced into a further substitution as Cigerci limped off injured to be replaced by Peter Niemeyer.
Luckless subs
The game trundled on without any real goalmouth action worthy of note. On 73 minutes Allagui broke to the by line down the right wing, from where he pulled the ball back to Skjelbrd who could only hit team mate Ben-Hatira with his shot (73.). Ramos then forced a save from Baumann with a tricky dipping effort which the keeper cleared away for a corner (75.). Ronny came on for Ben-Hatira with fifteen minutes left. Freiburg's final chance fell to Mehmedi (who else) who got a shot away from a narrow angle which flew wide of goal (85.). The match referee Peter Sippel then(thankfully) blew time on what was a dull 0-0 draw.
Hertha are in action again a week on Sunday (09.03.14), as they travel to take on carnival club Mainz 05 in a matchday 24 encounter.
Hertha seemed motivated enough as proceedings got underway. Within the opening minute Allagui let fly from the edge of the box, only to watch his effort fizz past the left hand upright. Freiburg also tried to press forward led mainly by danger man Admir Mehmedi, whose first shot from 20 metres out failed to trouble home keeper Thomas Kraft (8.). Kraft was on hand again four minutes later as Mehmedi got a shot away from only 7 metres out. The goal would not have counted had they scored because the flag had already been raised (12). Hertha had more of the ball but seemed a little short of ideas what to do with it.
Too harmless up front
Hertha combined well enough but always seemed to lack a final telling pass to the front line. Freiburg just about cleared the danger as Ramos loomed inside their box hoping to latch onto a ball played in low from the right (29.). Then the Bundesliga joint top scorer was fouled and Tolga Cigerci floated the resulting free kick into the Freiburg box, where Allagui could only head the ball wide of target (36.) Hajime Hosogai tried a long distance shot which flew well wide of goal (42.) Moments later Kraft once again denied Mehmedi as the Freiburg man threatened (43.). On the stroke of what turned out to be a goalless opening half, Marcel Ndjeng bore down alone on Freiburg keeper Oliver Baumann, but the Hertha mad failed to get enough control on the ball.
What action there3 was after the break usually was in Freiburg's half. Once again the midfield spark was missed by the home side. Freiburg's Mehmedi had the opening chance of the half, getting his head to a cross from the right. Once again though Kraft stood in his way easily dealing with the danger (54.). At the other end Ramos narrowly failed to reach a low cross into the box by Pekarik from the right wing (58.). Luhukay had seen enough and brought on Per Skjelbred für Ndjeng, hoping to freshen things up front. The Dutchman was then forced into a further substitution as Cigerci limped off injured to be replaced by Peter Niemeyer.
Luckless subs
The game trundled on without any real goalmouth action worthy of note. On 73 minutes Allagui broke to the by line down the right wing, from where he pulled the ball back to Skjelbrd who could only hit team mate Ben-Hatira with his shot (73.). Ramos then forced a save from Baumann with a tricky dipping effort which the keeper cleared away for a corner (75.). Ronny came on for Ben-Hatira with fifteen minutes left. Freiburg's final chance fell to Mehmedi (who else) who got a shot away from a narrow angle which flew wide of goal (85.). The match referee Peter Sippel then(thankfully) blew time on what was a dull 0-0 draw.
Hertha are in action again a week on Sunday (09.03.14), as they travel to take on carnival club Mainz 05 in a matchday 24 encounter.