Teams | April 13, 2014 at 10:50 PM
Hertha BSC lose 1-2 in Leverkusen
Hertha BSC lose 1-2 in Leverkusen
Sandro Wagner scored for Hertha at the BayArena.
Leverkusen - Hertha BSC's Bundesliga matchday 30 trip to Leverkusen ended in defeat on Sunday afternoon (13.04.14). The team under coach Jos Luhukay lost 1-2 in front of 29,377 at the BayArena. Hertha were a goal behind within a minute of the opening whistle and 0-2 behind after 24 minutes. The visitors pulled a goal back on 38 minutes through Sandro Wagner. Berlin coach Luhukay was without top scorer Adrian Ramos (16 goals) in Leverkusen. The Borussia Dortmund-bound striker injured a thigh muscle during the home draw with Hoffenheim last time out and did not travel with the rest of the group. His place up front went to Wagner. At the back Hertha welcomed back Johannes van den Bergh and Levan Kobiashvili, who played his 35oth Bundesliga game. Also back in the team - this time from suspension was midfielder Tolga Cigerci. Ronny and Ndjeng were on the bench at first, while Brooks didn't make the squad. New Leverkusen coach Sascha Lewandowski made just one change to the team which lost 1-2 at lowly HSV last time out which cost coach Sami Hyypiä his job: Captain Rolfes was replaced by Ömer Toprak.
The game began in the worst possible way for the visitors. The game was only 40 seconds old as Kießling scored his 15th goal of the season, heading home a cross from the right delivered by Giulio Donati (1.). Two minutes later Leverkusen almost struck again, but luckily for Hertha a shot from the edge of the box by Gonzalo Castro fizzed narrowly wide of the left hand post (3.). On 19 minutes Boenisch tried a shot from distance which cannoned off the crossbar with Berlin keeper Kraft beaten. Four minutes later Hertha's Änis Ben-Hatira saw his shot deflected onto the bar (23.).
Sandro Wagner scores for Hertha
Moments later the home side struck again. South Korean attacking midfielder Heung-Min Son played a sweet ball into the path of Julian Brandt. The 17 year old beat Kraft by chipping the ball past him (24.). Hertha tried hard and were finally rewarded as they won a free kick after Ben-Hatira was fouled. The resulting free kick was put onto the head of Wagner inside the area from where he nodded a goal back for the visitors (39.). Moments late Wagner threatened again with a header (40.). Two minutes later provider Cigerci (42.) sent a shot wide of target. The home side led 2-1 at halftime.
Luhukay brought on Nico Schulz for Ben-Hatira at the start of the second half, but it was the home side who threatened first through efforts by (52.) and a curling shot from Son (55.). After 57 minutes Luhukay introduced Alexander Baumjohann for Kobiashvili. Hosogai moved back into central defence alongside Langkamp. Sami Allagui broke into the Bayer box but home keeper Leno somehow got a boot to his deflected ball to clear the danger. The resulting corner was headed wide by Wagner (62.).
Attacking changes make little difference
Leverkusen continued to press forward. Emre Can tried to beat Kraft at his near post, but the Berlin stopper had no problems with dealing with his effort (68.). Not long afterwards Johannes van den Bergh had to clear the ball off his own line after Wagner headed the ball towards his own goal from a corner (69.). Luhukay brought Ronny on for Skjelbred with twenty minutes to go. On 80 minutes Schulz cut in from the left to the edge of the Bayer box, from where he fired a shot well over the crossbar. Six minutes later Pekarik found Allagui inside the Leverkusen area but his back heel posed no threat for Leno.
The referee then blew time on another bad day at the office for Hertha, who are on their travels again on matchday 31. This time the Berlin posse travels south to meet FC Augsburg who recently ended Bayern's long unbeaten run. That game on Easter Saturday (19.04.14) kicks off at 3.30 pm.
The game began in the worst possible way for the visitors. The game was only 40 seconds old as Kießling scored his 15th goal of the season, heading home a cross from the right delivered by Giulio Donati (1.). Two minutes later Leverkusen almost struck again, but luckily for Hertha a shot from the edge of the box by Gonzalo Castro fizzed narrowly wide of the left hand post (3.). On 19 minutes Boenisch tried a shot from distance which cannoned off the crossbar with Berlin keeper Kraft beaten. Four minutes later Hertha's Änis Ben-Hatira saw his shot deflected onto the bar (23.).
Sandro Wagner scores for Hertha
Moments later the home side struck again. South Korean attacking midfielder Heung-Min Son played a sweet ball into the path of Julian Brandt. The 17 year old beat Kraft by chipping the ball past him (24.). Hertha tried hard and were finally rewarded as they won a free kick after Ben-Hatira was fouled. The resulting free kick was put onto the head of Wagner inside the area from where he nodded a goal back for the visitors (39.). Moments late Wagner threatened again with a header (40.). Two minutes later provider Cigerci (42.) sent a shot wide of target. The home side led 2-1 at halftime.
Luhukay brought on Nico Schulz for Ben-Hatira at the start of the second half, but it was the home side who threatened first through efforts by (52.) and a curling shot from Son (55.). After 57 minutes Luhukay introduced Alexander Baumjohann for Kobiashvili. Hosogai moved back into central defence alongside Langkamp. Sami Allagui broke into the Bayer box but home keeper Leno somehow got a boot to his deflected ball to clear the danger. The resulting corner was headed wide by Wagner (62.).
Attacking changes make little difference
Leverkusen continued to press forward. Emre Can tried to beat Kraft at his near post, but the Berlin stopper had no problems with dealing with his effort (68.). Not long afterwards Johannes van den Bergh had to clear the ball off his own line after Wagner headed the ball towards his own goal from a corner (69.). Luhukay brought Ronny on for Skjelbred with twenty minutes to go. On 80 minutes Schulz cut in from the left to the edge of the Bayer box, from where he fired a shot well over the crossbar. Six minutes later Pekarik found Allagui inside the Leverkusen area but his back heel posed no threat for Leno.
The referee then blew time on another bad day at the office for Hertha, who are on their travels again on matchday 31. This time the Berlin posse travels south to meet FC Augsburg who recently ended Bayern's long unbeaten run. That game on Easter Saturday (19.04.14) kicks off at 3.30 pm.