Teams | September 20, 2014 at 02:01 AM
Ronny brace seals lucky point
Ronny brace seals lucky point
Ronny scored with two free kicks in the 2-2 draw in Freiburg.
Freiburg - On Friday night (19.09.14) Bundesliga matchday 4 opened with Hertha's long trip to the beautiful Black Forest region in southern Germany, where Jos Luhukay's men scraped a 2-2 draw thanks to two direxct free kicks taken by Brazilian midfielder Ronny. The second goal came deep into injury time at the end of the game. Luhukay made four changes to the team which lost 1-3 at home to Mainz last time out: Peter Pekarik and Hajime Hosogai returned after the stresses and strains of international duty. Ronny and Genki Haraguchi also started the game. Out went Ndjeng, Niemeyer, Skjelbred and van den Bergh. The home team were without Höfler and Mehmedi. Their places went to Guedé and Philipp.
Hertha looked busy enough early on, with Roy Beerens looking good down the right. But as has been so aften the case, their game fizzled out in the final third thanks mainly to poor passing and a lack of ideas up front. Freiburg were also mostly active down their right but without success at first. The first "danger" of the game came on 12 minutes as a floated Ronny free kick dipped just over the bar at the far post. Both defences took centre stage as the game was played mainly between the opposing penalty areas but rarely inside.
Ronny equalises with dream free kick
Freiburg opened the scoring with their first shot of the game, as sloppy marking at a corner allowed Marc-Oliver Kempf to rise above all and sundry to easily nod the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Thomas Kraft's net (30.). Hertha equalised only six minutes later though, as Ronny sent a wonderfully weighted free kick over the wall and into the net with the home keeper rooted to the spot, watching on in admiration (36.). Haraguchi then threatened on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked by a timely challenge. The effort was deflected for a corner which brought nothing (39.). Klaus sent a shot well wide of the far post on the stroke of halftime (45.). The game was evenly poised at 1-1 as the halftime whistle sounded.
Luhukay made a like for like change at the start of the second half, bringing on Salomon Kalou former Chelsea striker in place of luckless Julian Schieber. The first chance of the new half came Freiburg's way as Klaus forced a save from Kraft. (52.). Hertha had more of the ball but seemed void of ideas just what to do with it. Philipp got a shot away which was well saved by Kraft (58.). At that point in the game the visitors were rarely seen threatening up front. Hertha did then win the ball in midfield and quickly launched an attack involving Hegeler and Schulz. Beerens cut into the box from the right but his effort was blocked (66.).
Ronny at the double at the death
Freiburg tested Kraft again moments later, but the Berlin stopper superbly thwarted Phillips with a brilliant reflex save somehow tipping the ball over his bar (67.). Hertha's Vatentin Stocker then made his Hertha debut, replacing Haraguchi. Shortly afterwards Beerens let fly with a fierce effort from the right edge of the home box which fizzed narrowly over the bar (72.). Berlin captain Lustenberger then had to go off with cramp. The Swiss battler was replaced by John Heitinga. The only danger during that part of the game came from the home side. A high floated ball into Hertha's box was controlled on his chest by Guede, allowing Klaus to score by way of the inside of the right hand upright. 2-1 to Freiburg (79.).
Hertha threw everything forward but the home defence allowed them little. Nico Schulz was harshly sent off for pulling back an opponent who in truth did not look like scoring (90. +3). The visitors stuck to their guns and got a final chance deep into injury time as Ronny was fouled not far outside the Freiburg area. The Brazilian got up and blasted a deflected free kick home to give the capital city side a point which was fortunate to say the least. Moments later the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Luhukay and his men now welcome VfL Wolfsburg to the Olympic stadium in the capital city for a matchday 5 meeting next Wednesday night (24.09.14).
Hertha looked busy enough early on, with Roy Beerens looking good down the right. But as has been so aften the case, their game fizzled out in the final third thanks mainly to poor passing and a lack of ideas up front. Freiburg were also mostly active down their right but without success at first. The first "danger" of the game came on 12 minutes as a floated Ronny free kick dipped just over the bar at the far post. Both defences took centre stage as the game was played mainly between the opposing penalty areas but rarely inside.
Ronny equalises with dream free kick
Freiburg opened the scoring with their first shot of the game, as sloppy marking at a corner allowed Marc-Oliver Kempf to rise above all and sundry to easily nod the ball into the bottom right hand corner of Thomas Kraft's net (30.). Hertha equalised only six minutes later though, as Ronny sent a wonderfully weighted free kick over the wall and into the net with the home keeper rooted to the spot, watching on in admiration (36.). Haraguchi then threatened on the edge of the box but his shot was blocked by a timely challenge. The effort was deflected for a corner which brought nothing (39.). Klaus sent a shot well wide of the far post on the stroke of halftime (45.). The game was evenly poised at 1-1 as the halftime whistle sounded.
Luhukay made a like for like change at the start of the second half, bringing on Salomon Kalou former Chelsea striker in place of luckless Julian Schieber. The first chance of the new half came Freiburg's way as Klaus forced a save from Kraft. (52.). Hertha had more of the ball but seemed void of ideas just what to do with it. Philipp got a shot away which was well saved by Kraft (58.). At that point in the game the visitors were rarely seen threatening up front. Hertha did then win the ball in midfield and quickly launched an attack involving Hegeler and Schulz. Beerens cut into the box from the right but his effort was blocked (66.).
Ronny at the double at the death
Freiburg tested Kraft again moments later, but the Berlin stopper superbly thwarted Phillips with a brilliant reflex save somehow tipping the ball over his bar (67.). Hertha's Vatentin Stocker then made his Hertha debut, replacing Haraguchi. Shortly afterwards Beerens let fly with a fierce effort from the right edge of the home box which fizzed narrowly over the bar (72.). Berlin captain Lustenberger then had to go off with cramp. The Swiss battler was replaced by John Heitinga. The only danger during that part of the game came from the home side. A high floated ball into Hertha's box was controlled on his chest by Guede, allowing Klaus to score by way of the inside of the right hand upright. 2-1 to Freiburg (79.).
Hertha threw everything forward but the home defence allowed them little. Nico Schulz was harshly sent off for pulling back an opponent who in truth did not look like scoring (90. +3). The visitors stuck to their guns and got a final chance deep into injury time as Ronny was fouled not far outside the Freiburg area. The Brazilian got up and blasted a deflected free kick home to give the capital city side a point which was fortunate to say the least. Moments later the game ended in a 2-2 draw. Luhukay and his men now welcome VfL Wolfsburg to the Olympic stadium in the capital city for a matchday 5 meeting next Wednesday night (24.09.14).