Teams | September 14, 2014 at 12:44 PM
Maximum effort - minimum reward!
Maximum effort - minimum reward!
Hertha lost 1-3 at home to efficient visitors Mainz on matchday 3.
Berlin - Hertha tasted bitter defeat in the first game since the break for international games. On Saturday afternoon (13.09.14) Jos Luhukay's men suffered a 1-3 home defeat to super-efficient 1. FSV Mainz 05, in front of 42,000 at the Olympic stadium in the capital city. Luhukay once again rang the changes to his starting line-up. First choice keeper Thomas Kraft returned between the posts to replace Jarstein, while Heitinga and Hosogai sat on the bench alongside new signing Salomon Kalou. Hertha's second last minute summer signing Per Skjelbred's who's name drew a massive roar of approval from the home crowd, began the game in central midfield. Jens Hegeler also started his first game of the season. Mainz began with Sami Allagui - on loan from Hertha in their starting line-up.
Allagui had the opening chance of the game, but could only nod a free kick into the arms of Kraft (2.). The home side took control after that early threat, while the visitors massed their defence, waiting to hit the Berliners on the break. Hertha were determined in the tackle and threatened for the first time after ten minutes. Skjelbred nodded the ball into the path of Julian Schieber, but Mainz keeper Loris Karius did well to parry the effort from an acute angle past the far post. Five minutes later Karius raced from his line to intercept a through ball. The ball however landed at the feet of Skjelbred, whose effort from 40 metres out was cleared just short of the goal line by Stefan Bell (16.). Moments later Fabian Lustenberger could have equalised, but failed to get enough direction onto his shot following a header by Schieber (17.).
Mainz clinical in front of goal
Hertha struggled to breach the water tight Mainz defence and create decent chances. Hegler let fly with a volley which flew past the far post on 24 minutes, while John Anthony Brooks nodded the ball right of target while under pressure (34.). Then it was the turn of Mainz to threaten again, and the visitors took the lead with their first attack since Allagui's miss on 2 minutes. Hertha thought they had cleared the ball but it landed inside their box at the feet of Ja-Cheol Koo, whose effort was superbly stopped by Kraft, who was then powerless as Shinji Okazaki mopped up to break the deadlock from only six metres out (36.). To their credit, Hertha's heads did not drop but they failed to threaten again before the break.
The second half began with both teams unchanged and Hertha had the opening chances. Firstly Schulz aimed a shot from the edge of the area a little too high (47.), before Schieber broke into the Mainz box from the right, only to send his shot agonisingly wide of the far post (49.). Jos Luhukay then brought on Ronny for Skjelbred. The home side continued to struggle against the well-marshalled Mainz back line, while the visitors remained dangerous on the counter attack. On 69 minutes Luhukay introduced Salomon Kalou - his second last minute signing - to the fray at the expense of Johannes van den Bergh.
Ronny scores from the spot
But it was the visitors who struck again as Allagui (of all people) easily scored from close range while unmarked at the far post (70.). Hertha continued to try to get forward, and nice approach work ended in Kalou getting a shot away from inside the box on the left which flew just over the crossbar (81.). Luhukay made his last throw of the dice bringing on Änis Ben-Hatira for Hegeler. The Tunisian international was soon in the thick of the action too as his shot was handled inside the box by Niko Bungert. Ronny pulled a goal back for Hertha through Ronny from the penalty spot (86.).
Hertha threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but were once again hit by Mainz on the counter attack. Yunus Malli passed inside from the right and Okazaki easily completed his brace to make the final score 3-1 to the visitors. Hertha don't have long to lick their wounds because they are in action again next Friday night (19.09.14. 8.30 pm) away from home, as they take on SC Freiburg in their own back yard.
(rd/City-Press)
Allagui had the opening chance of the game, but could only nod a free kick into the arms of Kraft (2.). The home side took control after that early threat, while the visitors massed their defence, waiting to hit the Berliners on the break. Hertha were determined in the tackle and threatened for the first time after ten minutes. Skjelbred nodded the ball into the path of Julian Schieber, but Mainz keeper Loris Karius did well to parry the effort from an acute angle past the far post. Five minutes later Karius raced from his line to intercept a through ball. The ball however landed at the feet of Skjelbred, whose effort from 40 metres out was cleared just short of the goal line by Stefan Bell (16.). Moments later Fabian Lustenberger could have equalised, but failed to get enough direction onto his shot following a header by Schieber (17.).
Mainz clinical in front of goal
Hertha struggled to breach the water tight Mainz defence and create decent chances. Hegler let fly with a volley which flew past the far post on 24 minutes, while John Anthony Brooks nodded the ball right of target while under pressure (34.). Then it was the turn of Mainz to threaten again, and the visitors took the lead with their first attack since Allagui's miss on 2 minutes. Hertha thought they had cleared the ball but it landed inside their box at the feet of Ja-Cheol Koo, whose effort was superbly stopped by Kraft, who was then powerless as Shinji Okazaki mopped up to break the deadlock from only six metres out (36.). To their credit, Hertha's heads did not drop but they failed to threaten again before the break.
The second half began with both teams unchanged and Hertha had the opening chances. Firstly Schulz aimed a shot from the edge of the area a little too high (47.), before Schieber broke into the Mainz box from the right, only to send his shot agonisingly wide of the far post (49.). Jos Luhukay then brought on Ronny for Skjelbred. The home side continued to struggle against the well-marshalled Mainz back line, while the visitors remained dangerous on the counter attack. On 69 minutes Luhukay introduced Salomon Kalou - his second last minute signing - to the fray at the expense of Johannes van den Bergh.
Ronny scores from the spot
But it was the visitors who struck again as Allagui (of all people) easily scored from close range while unmarked at the far post (70.). Hertha continued to try to get forward, and nice approach work ended in Kalou getting a shot away from inside the box on the left which flew just over the crossbar (81.). Luhukay made his last throw of the dice bringing on Änis Ben-Hatira for Hegeler. The Tunisian international was soon in the thick of the action too as his shot was handled inside the box by Niko Bungert. Ronny pulled a goal back for Hertha through Ronny from the penalty spot (86.).
Hertha threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but were once again hit by Mainz on the counter attack. Yunus Malli passed inside from the right and Okazaki easily completed his brace to make the final score 3-1 to the visitors. Hertha don't have long to lick their wounds because they are in action again next Friday night (19.09.14. 8.30 pm) away from home, as they take on SC Freiburg in their own back yard.
(rd/City-Press)