Teams | March 29, 2014 at 12:51 AM
Hertha BSC lose 0-2 at Schalke 04
Hertha BSC lose 0-2 at Schalke 04
Hertha lost 0-2 in Gelesenkirchen on Friday night.
Gelsenkirchen - Hertha BSC lost their third game inside a week on Friday night (28.03.14). Jos Luhukay's men lost 0-2 away to Schalke 04. Thomas Kraft missed the game to be at the birth of his child. Rune Almenning Jarstein made his debut for the capital city side. Luhukay made six changes to the team which 1-3 at home to newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich last time out: Sandro Wagner lined up as second striker, while Sami Allagui and Änis Ben-Hatira were on the wings. Nico Schulz played at left back opposite Marcel Ndjeng who was at right back. Levan Kobiashvili and Sebastian Langkamp formed a central defensive partnership. Schalke boss Jens Keller was without formewr Hertha man Kevin Prince Boateng through suspension. His place i the team went to Chinedu Obasi.
Hertha's debutant in goal was called into action in the opening minute of the game, as he needed two attempts to deal with a long distance effort by Germany international Julian Draxler. The home sixde had more of the ball early on and created an early chance from a dead ball situation, as Schalke youngster Kaan Ayhan hit the inside of a post with a shot from 17 metres (9.). Ayhan was also involved in Hertha's first proper chance. He played a back pass too short, allowing Adrian Ramos to reach the ball. Sadly for the travelling Hertha faithful the Columbian chipped the ball over keeper Ralf Fährmann, but also over the goal (13.). Three minutes later Obasi went one batter as a solo run took him inside the Berlin box, where he rounded keeper Jarstein before finishing well from an acute angle to put the home side ahead (16.).
Caught cold after the break
Inaccurate passing let the visitors down time and time again, so chances were rare. Tolga Cigerci got a long distance shot away which was turned away for a corner which came to nothing (25.). Ben-Hatira had a chance to equalise but could only fire his shot wide following a good cross by Allagui (36.). Hertha's number 10 had a further chance shortly before the break but his curled effort from 20 metres landed on top of the Schalke goal.
As was the case in the first half, the home side made the better start after the break. Obasi set Klaas-Jan Huntelaar up and the prolific Dutchman scored within 29 seconds of the opening whistle (46.). Hertha pressed forward which gave the home side more operating space. A schalke counter attack ended with Huntelaar firing well wide of the left hand post (53.). Jos Luhukay took off Skjelbred and Wagner off, replacing them with Ronny and Alexander Baumjohann, who celebrated his comeback after cruciate ligament surgery against his former club. But Schalke created the next chance with Huntelaar shooting from an acute angle. This time Jarstein was on his guard to thwart the danger (60.).
Langkamp goal ruled out
Hertha continued to press forward but to little effect. A sweet through ball to Allagui was ruled offside (65.). The home side remained ever-dangerous. On 75 minutes Roman Neustädter played in substitute Adam Szalai in the middle, but his pass was too high for Joel Matip (75.). Then Hertha "scored" as Sebastian Langkamp nodded home a corner from the right but the goal was disallowed to everyone's amazement (80.). Ronny fed Ben-Hatira down the right from where he found Ramos lurking inside the Schalke box. But the Columbian somehow missed the target from point blank range (89.).
In the final minute Schulz found himself inside the Schalke box, but his promising pass inside found no takers and the game ended in a 2-0 victory for Schalke. Hertha are in action next Sunday (06.04.14, 5.30 pm), as they host TSG Hoffenheim at the Olympiastadion on Bundesliga matchday 29. Tolga Cigerci will miss that game through suspension, after picking up a fifth booking against Schalke.
Hertha's debutant in goal was called into action in the opening minute of the game, as he needed two attempts to deal with a long distance effort by Germany international Julian Draxler. The home sixde had more of the ball early on and created an early chance from a dead ball situation, as Schalke youngster Kaan Ayhan hit the inside of a post with a shot from 17 metres (9.). Ayhan was also involved in Hertha's first proper chance. He played a back pass too short, allowing Adrian Ramos to reach the ball. Sadly for the travelling Hertha faithful the Columbian chipped the ball over keeper Ralf Fährmann, but also over the goal (13.). Three minutes later Obasi went one batter as a solo run took him inside the Berlin box, where he rounded keeper Jarstein before finishing well from an acute angle to put the home side ahead (16.).
Caught cold after the break
Inaccurate passing let the visitors down time and time again, so chances were rare. Tolga Cigerci got a long distance shot away which was turned away for a corner which came to nothing (25.). Ben-Hatira had a chance to equalise but could only fire his shot wide following a good cross by Allagui (36.). Hertha's number 10 had a further chance shortly before the break but his curled effort from 20 metres landed on top of the Schalke goal.
As was the case in the first half, the home side made the better start after the break. Obasi set Klaas-Jan Huntelaar up and the prolific Dutchman scored within 29 seconds of the opening whistle (46.). Hertha pressed forward which gave the home side more operating space. A schalke counter attack ended with Huntelaar firing well wide of the left hand post (53.). Jos Luhukay took off Skjelbred and Wagner off, replacing them with Ronny and Alexander Baumjohann, who celebrated his comeback after cruciate ligament surgery against his former club. But Schalke created the next chance with Huntelaar shooting from an acute angle. This time Jarstein was on his guard to thwart the danger (60.).
Langkamp goal ruled out
Hertha continued to press forward but to little effect. A sweet through ball to Allagui was ruled offside (65.). The home side remained ever-dangerous. On 75 minutes Roman Neustädter played in substitute Adam Szalai in the middle, but his pass was too high for Joel Matip (75.). Then Hertha "scored" as Sebastian Langkamp nodded home a corner from the right but the goal was disallowed to everyone's amazement (80.). Ronny fed Ben-Hatira down the right from where he found Ramos lurking inside the Schalke box. But the Columbian somehow missed the target from point blank range (89.).
In the final minute Schulz found himself inside the Schalke box, but his promising pass inside found no takers and the game ended in a 2-0 victory for Schalke. Hertha are in action next Sunday (06.04.14, 5.30 pm), as they host TSG Hoffenheim at the Olympiastadion on Bundesliga matchday 29. Tolga Cigerci will miss that game through suspension, after picking up a fifth booking against Schalke.