Teams | March 15, 2014 at 08:08 PM
0-3: Bitter home loss
0-3: Bitter home loss
Hertha still await their first home win of 2014 after losing 0-3 to Hannover 96.
Berlin - Hannover 96 triumphed 3-0 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Bundesliga matchday 25 on Saturday afternoon (15.03.14). The home side once again had more of the ball as has often been the case this season but once again their downfall was their lack of efficiency in front of goal. Home coach Jos Luhukay fielded a changed line up to the one which drew with Mainz last time out, with Ronny, Nico Schulz and Peter Niemeyer starting the game at the expense of Allagui, van den Bergh (both on the bench) and injured midfielder Ndjeng. The visitors were without Pocognoli and Diouf who were replaced by Lars Stindl and Edgar Prib.
Hertha took the game to the visitors right away and could have taken an early lead as Hannover's defence deflected a clearance into the path of Berlin danger man Adrian Ramos, who rounded keeper Ron-Robert Zieler only to hit the side netting with a shot from a tight angle (2.). The visitors tried to stop the home side settling on the ball by challenging them in their own half, but Hertha still combined well going forward. On 11 minutes Zieler was called upon to turn a Ronny free kick around a post for a corner (11.). Eight minutes later Ramos was in the spotlight again as he was nicely played into space. This time he failed to control the ball, allowing Zieler to clear the danger (19.).
Hertha play, Hannover score
The visitors were forced to change their plans on 15 minutes as their striker on loan from HSV Ajrtoms Rudnevs went off injured to be replaced by veteran journeyman Jan Schlaudraff. His introduction didn't cause the home side any problems at first. Inaccurate passing crept into Hertha's game and the final telling pass simply wouldn't come so goalmouth action was rare at that point in time. Ronny then found Per Skjelbred with a sweet through ball near the area. The Norwegian failed to strike the ball properly though and his effort flew wide of goal (44.). There were no goals in the opening half.
There were no changes on either side during the break and the half began with a harmless Ronny effort from distance which failed to trouble Zieler (46.). Then out of the blue Hannover opened the scoring with their first real chance of the game, as Bittencourt broke down the right before playing the ball back to Stindl who nailed the ball under the crossbar to put the visitors in front (49.). Hertha continued to create chances. First, Zieler denied Skjelbred following fine approach work involving Kobiashvili and Ramos, before the latter could only put a cross by Pekarik onto the roof of the net (54. + 57). Seconds later the visitors doubled their lead hitting Hertha on the counter attack. Bittencorurt played a square ball to Schlaudraff, who rounded home keeper Kraft before coolly finishing to make it 2-0 (57.).
Hertha hit the woodwork
Hertha continued to press forward but without much luck. On 61 minutes Ramos nodded an accurate Ronny cross agonisingly wide. Luhukay introduced more fire power upfront, bringing on Hany Mukhtar and Sami Allagui for Hosogai and Skjelbred. Despite having more possession the home side struggled against the visitors who were ever-dangerous on the break. Zieler got down in time to a shot by Niemeyer (84.). Five minutes later Ronny hit the right hand upright (89.). Hannover rounded off their deserved win by scoring through Szabolcs Huszti a minute into injury time to make the final score 3-0 to the visitors.
Hertha are still awaiting their first home win of 2014. On matchday 26 they travel to the Borussia-Park, where former Hertha supremo Lucien Favre and his Borussia Mönchengladbach side await them next Saturday (22.03.14, 6.30 pm).
Hertha took the game to the visitors right away and could have taken an early lead as Hannover's defence deflected a clearance into the path of Berlin danger man Adrian Ramos, who rounded keeper Ron-Robert Zieler only to hit the side netting with a shot from a tight angle (2.). The visitors tried to stop the home side settling on the ball by challenging them in their own half, but Hertha still combined well going forward. On 11 minutes Zieler was called upon to turn a Ronny free kick around a post for a corner (11.). Eight minutes later Ramos was in the spotlight again as he was nicely played into space. This time he failed to control the ball, allowing Zieler to clear the danger (19.).
Hertha play, Hannover score
The visitors were forced to change their plans on 15 minutes as their striker on loan from HSV Ajrtoms Rudnevs went off injured to be replaced by veteran journeyman Jan Schlaudraff. His introduction didn't cause the home side any problems at first. Inaccurate passing crept into Hertha's game and the final telling pass simply wouldn't come so goalmouth action was rare at that point in time. Ronny then found Per Skjelbred with a sweet through ball near the area. The Norwegian failed to strike the ball properly though and his effort flew wide of goal (44.). There were no goals in the opening half.
There were no changes on either side during the break and the half began with a harmless Ronny effort from distance which failed to trouble Zieler (46.). Then out of the blue Hannover opened the scoring with their first real chance of the game, as Bittencourt broke down the right before playing the ball back to Stindl who nailed the ball under the crossbar to put the visitors in front (49.). Hertha continued to create chances. First, Zieler denied Skjelbred following fine approach work involving Kobiashvili and Ramos, before the latter could only put a cross by Pekarik onto the roof of the net (54. + 57). Seconds later the visitors doubled their lead hitting Hertha on the counter attack. Bittencorurt played a square ball to Schlaudraff, who rounded home keeper Kraft before coolly finishing to make it 2-0 (57.).
Hertha hit the woodwork
Hertha continued to press forward but without much luck. On 61 minutes Ramos nodded an accurate Ronny cross agonisingly wide. Luhukay introduced more fire power upfront, bringing on Hany Mukhtar and Sami Allagui for Hosogai and Skjelbred. Despite having more possession the home side struggled against the visitors who were ever-dangerous on the break. Zieler got down in time to a shot by Niemeyer (84.). Five minutes later Ronny hit the right hand upright (89.). Hannover rounded off their deserved win by scoring through Szabolcs Huszti a minute into injury time to make the final score 3-0 to the visitors.
Hertha are still awaiting their first home win of 2014. On matchday 26 they travel to the Borussia-Park, where former Hertha supremo Lucien Favre and his Borussia Mönchengladbach side await them next Saturday (22.03.14, 6.30 pm).