Teams | October 19, 2014 at 01:59 PM
Hertha BSC lose 0-2 at Schalke
Hertha BSC lose 0-2 at Schalke
Hertha BSC lost 0-2 at Schalke, despite having more possession.
Gelsenkirchen - Gelsenkirchen remains a poor place to visit for Hertha BSC, who lost 0-2 to Schalke there on Bundesliga matchday 8 on Saturday evening (18.10.14). Hertha boss Jos Luhukay fielded the same side which beat VfB Stuttgart 3-2 in Berlin before the break for international matches. There was a familiar face across the halfway line at the sold out Veltins-Arena – that of former Hertha man Kevin-Prince Boateng who was Schalke’s playmaker. Former Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo made his debut in the Schalke hot seat and chose to play Höwedes and Ayhan instead of Matip (suspended), Höger and Meyer.
The visitors put the home side under pressure during the opening minutes. On 7 minutes Hertha’s John Heitinga fired an opening warning shot with a free kick. Danger threatened at the other end almost immediately as Boateng opened things up with a pass down the right to Uchida who in turn found Dutch danger man Huntelaar, who somehow managed to push his shot wide of the far post (8.). Hertha pressed high up the field and managed to create a few chances. Per Skjelbred got a shot away from left midfield, before Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann parried the ball to the feet of Peter Pekarik, but the Slovakian’s effort was blocked by a last ditch goal line clearance by Fuchs(15.). Seconds later Huntelaar missed a real sitter at the far post as it looked easier to score (16.).
Huntelaar third time lucky
The Dutchman made it third time lucky on 19 minutes as he opened the scoring with a wonderfully timed header from around 10 metres out. Hertha to their credit carried on their ploy of using the wings, but sadly the final pass was mostly wayward or they gave the ball away without being challenged too many times. Skjelbred then tried his luck from distance with a shot which was easily dealt with by Fährmann (39.). The visitors were a goal behind at the break.
Neither coach made any changes during halftime. The first effort of the new half was a cross cum shot by Nico Schulz which ended up in the arms of Fährmann (50.). Three minutes later Änis Ben-Hatira cut in from the right, but his shot from the edge of the Schalke box was food and drink for Schalke’s keeper. On 55 minutes the Tunisian failed to connect with the ball properly, following a corner taken by Roy Beerens and a further chance was wasted. New signing Kalou fired a shot on the turn but World Cup winner and Schalke skipper Höwedes was on hand to clear the danger (59.). Luhukay then brought on Sandro Wagner for Ben-Hatira.
Clinical hosts
Then it was Schalke’s turn to threaten. On 64 minutes a Neustädter header landed in the arms of Berlin stopper Kraft. Moments later though young Germany star Draxler made it 2-0 with a shot from the edge of the area which deflected off the boot of Hertha’s captain Lustenberger on its way into the far corner of the net (65.). John Anthony Brooks and Genki Haraguchi were brought on to replace Lustenberger and Stocker for the final minutes. Hertha tried hard, but could find no way past the well-marshalled home defence. Kalou headed over the bar (74.), before a cross from a tight angle by Schulz hit the side netting (80.).
Beerens missed Hertha’s best chance of the game on 88 minutes as he sent a volley narrowly wide of target. The final whistle sounded after an additional three minutes and Hertha returned home empty handed. Luhukay and Co. have a chance to put things ´right again next Saturday (25.10.14, 3.30 pm), as they host Bundesliga strugglers HSV at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 9.
(rd,war/City-Press)
The visitors put the home side under pressure during the opening minutes. On 7 minutes Hertha’s John Heitinga fired an opening warning shot with a free kick. Danger threatened at the other end almost immediately as Boateng opened things up with a pass down the right to Uchida who in turn found Dutch danger man Huntelaar, who somehow managed to push his shot wide of the far post (8.). Hertha pressed high up the field and managed to create a few chances. Per Skjelbred got a shot away from left midfield, before Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann parried the ball to the feet of Peter Pekarik, but the Slovakian’s effort was blocked by a last ditch goal line clearance by Fuchs(15.). Seconds later Huntelaar missed a real sitter at the far post as it looked easier to score (16.).
Huntelaar third time lucky
The Dutchman made it third time lucky on 19 minutes as he opened the scoring with a wonderfully timed header from around 10 metres out. Hertha to their credit carried on their ploy of using the wings, but sadly the final pass was mostly wayward or they gave the ball away without being challenged too many times. Skjelbred then tried his luck from distance with a shot which was easily dealt with by Fährmann (39.). The visitors were a goal behind at the break.
Neither coach made any changes during halftime. The first effort of the new half was a cross cum shot by Nico Schulz which ended up in the arms of Fährmann (50.). Three minutes later Änis Ben-Hatira cut in from the right, but his shot from the edge of the Schalke box was food and drink for Schalke’s keeper. On 55 minutes the Tunisian failed to connect with the ball properly, following a corner taken by Roy Beerens and a further chance was wasted. New signing Kalou fired a shot on the turn but World Cup winner and Schalke skipper Höwedes was on hand to clear the danger (59.). Luhukay then brought on Sandro Wagner for Ben-Hatira.
Clinical hosts
Then it was Schalke’s turn to threaten. On 64 minutes a Neustädter header landed in the arms of Berlin stopper Kraft. Moments later though young Germany star Draxler made it 2-0 with a shot from the edge of the area which deflected off the boot of Hertha’s captain Lustenberger on its way into the far corner of the net (65.). John Anthony Brooks and Genki Haraguchi were brought on to replace Lustenberger and Stocker for the final minutes. Hertha tried hard, but could find no way past the well-marshalled home defence. Kalou headed over the bar (74.), before a cross from a tight angle by Schulz hit the side netting (80.).
Beerens missed Hertha’s best chance of the game on 88 minutes as he sent a volley narrowly wide of target. The final whistle sounded after an additional three minutes and Hertha returned home empty handed. Luhukay and Co. have a chance to put things ´right again next Saturday (25.10.14, 3.30 pm), as they host Bundesliga strugglers HSV at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 9.
(rd,war/City-Press)