Teams | December 14, 2014 at 12:43 AM
Julian Schieber scores winning goal!
Julian Schieber scores winning goal!
Hertha BSC beat Borussia Dortmund 1-0!
Berlin - A huge crowd of 75,254 inside the-almost sold out Olympic stadium in Berlin on Saturday afternoon (13.12.14), saw Hertha BSC entertain Champions League participants Borussia Dortmund, in a dramatic matchday 15 encounter. The home side produced a gritty and determined performance at the perfect time, to send pre-match favourites Borussia home with a 0-1 defeat in their luggage. The only goal of the game came through former Dortmund striker Julian Schieber five minutes short of the break. Ronny, who came on in Gladbach after half an hour began as sole striker, while veteran battler Peter Niemeyer got the nod in front of the back four ahead of Hosogai. Schulz returned at left back at the expense of den Bergh. Dortmund boss Jürgen Klopp made one change to his side from matchday 14, preferring Italian hit man Ciro Immobile up front instead of former Hertha striker Adrian Ramos.
Both teams began cautiously. The first action happened in the Dortmund half as John Anthony Brooks found Ben-Hatira with an accurate long pass. The Tunisian crossed into the middle, where Roy Beerens narrowly failed to connect with the ball. The visitors had more possession but failed to threaten the goal being guarded by in-form stopper Thomas Kraft. At the other end Schieber set up Skjelbred by chesting the ball into his path, but the resulting shot landed in the arms of Borussia keeper Mitchell Langerak, once again picked ahead of World Cup winner Roman Weidenfeller (12.). Dortmund’s first shot came from Immobile who blasted the ball well over the bar (16.).
Schieber nets crucial opener
Ronny sent a groan around the huge stadium on 26 minutes as a free kick from the left flew agonisingly wide of the top left hand corner of the net. After half an hour Schieber was not quite tall enough to convert a cross by Beerens, following good approach work from Skjlebred. Ten minutes later though, Schieber would have the last word, and show Borussia what they once saw in him. Skjelbred found Schieber on the edge of the Dortmund box from where he advanced inside, beat two defenders, before duping Langerak and superbly finishing from ten meters out sending the home fans into raptures (40.). Beerens missed a good chance to double Hertha’s lead as he forced a good save from Langerak (45.). Hertha BSC were well worth their 1-0 halftime lead.
Klopp increased his firepower by bringing on Adrian Ramos to play alongside Immobile up front. Borussia won two corners in the opening minute of the new half but Hertha’s defence was resolute. Hertha swarmed out after winning the ball but once again the final telling pass was missing. A defence-splitting pass from Ronny set up the first Berlin chance of the second half. The Brazilian superbly fed Ben-Hatira who could only hit the side netting from an acute angle (58.). The visitors once again had more of the ball but man-mountain defender John Anthony Brooks had found top form again and alongside Jens Hegeler, kept things tight at the back. Hertha continued to waste good counter attacking opportunities after winning possession off the visitors. Would a one-goal lead be enough?
Unbeatable Kraft
Thomas Kraft was called into action to punch away a long distance effort by ever-dangerous Immobile (65.). Two minutes later the Berlin keeper crucially reached a through ball ahead of Blaszczykowski (67.). Home coach Jos Luhukay then made a double change, with Hajime Hosogai and Johannes van den Bergh replacing Ben-Hatira and Skjelbred. Dortmund won a free kick in a promising position not far outside the Hertha box. But Germany star Gündogan was denied by the Berlin wall standing firm, deflecting his shot away for a corner (73.). From that corner much sought after central defender Hummels could not believe his luck as Kraft produced with a top drawer save to keep his header out. Then there was a heart-warming moment for the majority of the almost-capacity crowd as Hertha captain Fabian Lustenberger came on to replace Ronny, who was rightly warmly applauded off.
The visitors feverishly tried to breach the home defence during the dying moments of what had been a superb game of football. On 86 minutes Kraft made a wonderful reflex save to keep out a close range header by Immobile. Moments later the Italian missed the best chance of the game as slack Berlin marking saw him unmarked a few metres out from goal. He could only hold his head in his hands along with the massive contingent of travelling Borussia faithful as he headed wide when it looked much easier to score (87.). The referee added on three minutes at the end, and with the huge home crowd behind them to a man Hertha stood their ground successfully to record a dramatic and well deserved win, which the players celebrated with their ecstatic fans in front of the east stand. What a game! The capital city side will not have long to enjoy this victory though, because they are in action again on Wednesday night (17.12.14, 8.00 pm) as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt away from home on Bundesliga matchday 16.
Both teams began cautiously. The first action happened in the Dortmund half as John Anthony Brooks found Ben-Hatira with an accurate long pass. The Tunisian crossed into the middle, where Roy Beerens narrowly failed to connect with the ball. The visitors had more possession but failed to threaten the goal being guarded by in-form stopper Thomas Kraft. At the other end Schieber set up Skjelbred by chesting the ball into his path, but the resulting shot landed in the arms of Borussia keeper Mitchell Langerak, once again picked ahead of World Cup winner Roman Weidenfeller (12.). Dortmund’s first shot came from Immobile who blasted the ball well over the bar (16.).
Schieber nets crucial opener
Ronny sent a groan around the huge stadium on 26 minutes as a free kick from the left flew agonisingly wide of the top left hand corner of the net. After half an hour Schieber was not quite tall enough to convert a cross by Beerens, following good approach work from Skjlebred. Ten minutes later though, Schieber would have the last word, and show Borussia what they once saw in him. Skjelbred found Schieber on the edge of the Dortmund box from where he advanced inside, beat two defenders, before duping Langerak and superbly finishing from ten meters out sending the home fans into raptures (40.). Beerens missed a good chance to double Hertha’s lead as he forced a good save from Langerak (45.). Hertha BSC were well worth their 1-0 halftime lead.
Klopp increased his firepower by bringing on Adrian Ramos to play alongside Immobile up front. Borussia won two corners in the opening minute of the new half but Hertha’s defence was resolute. Hertha swarmed out after winning the ball but once again the final telling pass was missing. A defence-splitting pass from Ronny set up the first Berlin chance of the second half. The Brazilian superbly fed Ben-Hatira who could only hit the side netting from an acute angle (58.). The visitors once again had more of the ball but man-mountain defender John Anthony Brooks had found top form again and alongside Jens Hegeler, kept things tight at the back. Hertha continued to waste good counter attacking opportunities after winning possession off the visitors. Would a one-goal lead be enough?
Unbeatable Kraft
Thomas Kraft was called into action to punch away a long distance effort by ever-dangerous Immobile (65.). Two minutes later the Berlin keeper crucially reached a through ball ahead of Blaszczykowski (67.). Home coach Jos Luhukay then made a double change, with Hajime Hosogai and Johannes van den Bergh replacing Ben-Hatira and Skjelbred. Dortmund won a free kick in a promising position not far outside the Hertha box. But Germany star Gündogan was denied by the Berlin wall standing firm, deflecting his shot away for a corner (73.). From that corner much sought after central defender Hummels could not believe his luck as Kraft produced with a top drawer save to keep his header out. Then there was a heart-warming moment for the majority of the almost-capacity crowd as Hertha captain Fabian Lustenberger came on to replace Ronny, who was rightly warmly applauded off.
The visitors feverishly tried to breach the home defence during the dying moments of what had been a superb game of football. On 86 minutes Kraft made a wonderful reflex save to keep out a close range header by Immobile. Moments later the Italian missed the best chance of the game as slack Berlin marking saw him unmarked a few metres out from goal. He could only hold his head in his hands along with the massive contingent of travelling Borussia faithful as he headed wide when it looked much easier to score (87.). The referee added on three minutes at the end, and with the huge home crowd behind them to a man Hertha stood their ground successfully to record a dramatic and well deserved win, which the players celebrated with their ecstatic fans in front of the east stand. What a game! The capital city side will not have long to enjoy this victory though, because they are in action again on Wednesday night (17.12.14, 8.00 pm) as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt away from home on Bundesliga matchday 16.