Teams | September 2, 2014 at 03:20 PM
2-4: Bitter defeat in Leverkusen
2-4: Bitter defeat in Leverkusen
Hertha lost 2-4 despite leading twice away to Bayer Leverkusen.
Leverkusen - Hertha lost their first away game of the new season on Saturday afternoon (30.08.14). Jos Luhukay's men lost 2-4 against a strong Bayer eleven, despite taking the lead twice. While Leverkusen fielded the same side for the third straight time, Luhukay was forced to ring the changes. First choice keeper Kraft suffered a late muscular problem in his calf, which saw Rune Almenning Jarstein take his place between the Berlin posts. Captain Fabian Lustenberger made a welcome return to the team at the heart of a back three alongside John Heitinga and John Anthony Brooks (for the injured Langkamp). The full back positions also had new faces, with Marcel Ndjeng replacing Pekarik (bench) and Johannes van den Bergh for Schulz, who moved up a place on the pitch to replace Haraguchi.
Hertha defended well against the home side who have scored early in their games so far this season. Bayer threatened for the first time as Karim Bellarabi played a one two with South Korean international Heung-Min Son fast. The formers cross into the Berlin box however, found no takers (16.). Shortly afterwards Jarstein was in the thick of it, plucking an attempted lob by Karim Bellarabi out of the air (18.). Hertha tried to hit Leverkusen on the break as soon as they won the ball. Leverkusen's defence cleared a cross by Schulz just before Julian Schieber was about to pull the trigger (21.). Three minutes later Schieber crossed in from the right and Leverkusen's Tin Jedvaj put the ball past his own keeper to give the visitors the lead (24.).
Schieber restores Hertha's lead
The home side looked unimpressed at going a goal down, but Hertha's well-marshalled defence did sterling work to keep them at bay. Niggly fouls crept into the game but none serious enough to warrant a booking at first. Match referee Tobias Stieler only had to issue a few final warnings. Schieber's header was blocked by Simon Rolfes following a corner from the right (41.). Moments later at the other end Bellarabi let fly with a shot which fizzed just past the left hand upright (42.). Berlin danger man Schieber had a chance to double Hertha's lead on the stroke of halftime, but his shot on the turn flew narrowly wide of home stopper Bernd Leno's goal (45.). The visitors led 1-0 at halftime.
Jos Luhukay saw no reason to make any changes during the break, but the home side emerged for the second half in determined mood, putting Hertha under sustained pressure and took the opening chance they created after the break. Own goal-scorer Jedvaj received a long diagonal ball and let fly (from what looked to be a slightly offside position), Berlin keeper Jarstein got a glove to the ball but could not prevent it from going in for Bayer's equaliser (49.). Four minutes later the home side threatened again. This time Calhanoglu went close with a fierce effort which flew agonisingly wide of target (53.). Hertha finally manged to break the choke hold placed on them by the home side on 60 minutes, as Schulz crossed from the right. Leno failed to reach the ball and Schieber was stood where a goal poacher should stand to nod Hertha into the lead again against the run of play.
Leverkusen turn things around
Sadly the lead didn't last long. Calhanoglu played a high ball into the Berlin box from halfway inside the half and slack Hertha marking allowed Spahic to easily head the home side level again (62.). Bayer's new signing from HSV was agin involved as Bayer created their next chance. Calhanoglu's shot struck a post as did Bellarabi's, but this time substitute Julian Brandt was perfectly placed to give Leverkusen the lead for the fist time in the game (75.). Stefan Kießling took the ball off Schieber in the nick of time before darting the whole lenth of the pitch, but Brooks denied the sometimes-Germany striker with a superbly timed challenge (79.).
Hertha tried to fight their way back to level terms as Luhukay replaced Schulz with striker Sandro Wagner. Shortly beforehand Marvin Plattenhardt came on for Hosogai. But it was the home side who scored again to put the game to bed, as Bellarabi netted with a superb volley (86.). After the break for international games, Hertha host 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the Olympic stadium in the capital city in a matchday 3 encounter on Saturday (13.09.14, 3.30 pm).
Hertha defended well against the home side who have scored early in their games so far this season. Bayer threatened for the first time as Karim Bellarabi played a one two with South Korean international Heung-Min Son fast. The formers cross into the Berlin box however, found no takers (16.). Shortly afterwards Jarstein was in the thick of it, plucking an attempted lob by Karim Bellarabi out of the air (18.). Hertha tried to hit Leverkusen on the break as soon as they won the ball. Leverkusen's defence cleared a cross by Schulz just before Julian Schieber was about to pull the trigger (21.). Three minutes later Schieber crossed in from the right and Leverkusen's Tin Jedvaj put the ball past his own keeper to give the visitors the lead (24.).
Schieber restores Hertha's lead
The home side looked unimpressed at going a goal down, but Hertha's well-marshalled defence did sterling work to keep them at bay. Niggly fouls crept into the game but none serious enough to warrant a booking at first. Match referee Tobias Stieler only had to issue a few final warnings. Schieber's header was blocked by Simon Rolfes following a corner from the right (41.). Moments later at the other end Bellarabi let fly with a shot which fizzed just past the left hand upright (42.). Berlin danger man Schieber had a chance to double Hertha's lead on the stroke of halftime, but his shot on the turn flew narrowly wide of home stopper Bernd Leno's goal (45.). The visitors led 1-0 at halftime.
Jos Luhukay saw no reason to make any changes during the break, but the home side emerged for the second half in determined mood, putting Hertha under sustained pressure and took the opening chance they created after the break. Own goal-scorer Jedvaj received a long diagonal ball and let fly (from what looked to be a slightly offside position), Berlin keeper Jarstein got a glove to the ball but could not prevent it from going in for Bayer's equaliser (49.). Four minutes later the home side threatened again. This time Calhanoglu went close with a fierce effort which flew agonisingly wide of target (53.). Hertha finally manged to break the choke hold placed on them by the home side on 60 minutes, as Schulz crossed from the right. Leno failed to reach the ball and Schieber was stood where a goal poacher should stand to nod Hertha into the lead again against the run of play.
Leverkusen turn things around
Sadly the lead didn't last long. Calhanoglu played a high ball into the Berlin box from halfway inside the half and slack Hertha marking allowed Spahic to easily head the home side level again (62.). Bayer's new signing from HSV was agin involved as Bayer created their next chance. Calhanoglu's shot struck a post as did Bellarabi's, but this time substitute Julian Brandt was perfectly placed to give Leverkusen the lead for the fist time in the game (75.). Stefan Kießling took the ball off Schieber in the nick of time before darting the whole lenth of the pitch, but Brooks denied the sometimes-Germany striker with a superbly timed challenge (79.).
Hertha tried to fight their way back to level terms as Luhukay replaced Schulz with striker Sandro Wagner. Shortly beforehand Marvin Plattenhardt came on for Hosogai. But it was the home side who scored again to put the game to bed, as Bellarabi netted with a superb volley (86.). After the break for international games, Hertha host 1. FSV Mainz 05 at the Olympic stadium in the capital city in a matchday 3 encounter on Saturday (13.09.14, 3.30 pm).