Teams | December 18, 2014 at 08:32 AM
Victory squandered
Victory squandered
Only 4-4. Two Alex Meier goals at the death prevented Hertha BSC from winning at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Frankfurt - An incredibly dramatic encounter ended 4-4 on Wednesday night (17.12.14), as Hertha BSC drew 4-4 away to Eintracht Frankfurt in a Bundesliga matchday 16 thriller. The visitors somehow managed to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory in a game which left the huge crowd not quite sure of what had just happened, such was the incredulity on show amoong fans of both teams. Hertha had led 3-0 and 4-2 until Eintracht striker Alex Meier popped up to score two dramatic late goals to secure a point for coach Thomas Schaafs' men. Berlin coach Jos Luhukay was forced to make a change to his side which beat Borussia Dortmund last time out: Per Skjelbred made the trip to Frankfurt but failed a late fitness test, so his place in the team went to Hajime Hosogai. Schaaf kept faith in the Eintracht line-up which lost 2-3 to Hoffenheim on matchday 15.
The home side took the early initiative and had the ball in the Berlin net after only seconds. Match referee Guido Winkmann rightly ruled the goal out for offside (6.). Hertha tried to get forward at pace after winning possession. After seven minutes Julian Schieber "scored", but Ronny had fouled an opponent during the build so the goal did not stand. Hertha though, remained patient. As has been the case so often this season, it took a set piece for Hertha to break the deadlock, as Ronny curled a crisp ball into the Eintracht box, where defender John Anthony Brooks reacted quickest to strike the ball past helpless Timo Hildebrand (21.). Roy Beerens was forced off early with an injury. He was replaced by Genki Haraguchi.
Super-efficient Hertha lead 3-0
That goal settled the visitors. On 28 minutes Ronny played a superb ball to ƒnis Ben-Hatira with the outside of his boot. The Tunisian however could only blast the ball well over the bar. The Berlin-born Tunisian went one better only five minutes later. A corner taken by Ronny was back-headed towards the far post by Ben-Hatira, and everyone stood mesmorized as the ball flew into the net via the right hand upright. 2-0 to Hertha! Two chances and two goals! Hertha unable to believe their luck continued to threaten, and Ben-Hatira played a low ball from the right into the box where Schieber was lurking to beat Hildebrand for the third time (37.). Eintracht managed to pull a confidence-boosting goal back before the break as Aigner easily netted from point blank range after latching onto a deflected cross (42.). Deep into injury time at the end of the first half, Ben-Hatira narrowly failed to connect with a through ball by Ronny, so the visitors led 3-1 at the break.
The goal shortly before halftime boosted the home side, who emerged for the second half in attacking mode. Meier got a header in but Berlin keeper Kraft was on his guard to punch the ball clear of the danger zone (50.). Kraft also had a curling effort by Inui from the edge of the area which flew narrowly wide of target (54.). The Hertha goalie was then powerless as Frankfurt's Haris Seferovic nodded home a cross to make it 2-3 from the home perspective (58.). Schieber then had a good chance to extend Hertha's lead , following a nice move involving Ben-Hatira. Sadly for the visitors and their travelling fans Hildebrand somewhat fortunately managed to turn his effort around a post for a corner (60.). Ben-Hatira did well to get past Frankfurt's last man Oczipka, but lost to Hildebrand in the resulting one on one situation.
Dramatic ending
Valentin Stocker made his comeback replacing Ronny after around an hour. Hertha looked pretty solid midway through the second half even though the home side had much more of the ball. The visitors remained ever-dangerous on the break. Ben-Hatira found Schieber inside the home box where he went to ground. There was no whistle and the referee waved play on (79.). Just a minute later Ben-Hatira was fouled moving down the right. He took the free kick himself and found Peter Niemmeyer who scored by blasting the ball under the bar. The home side refused to give up and Meier tested Kraft from distance, but the keeper was up to the challenge, and gathered the ball well diving low to his right (83.).
Meier would not be denied though and headed home after a team mate was allowed to cross into the area unchallenged (90.) - but that was not all. In the fifth minute of injury time the ball was back-headed into the path of Meier who incedibly scored again to make it 4-4, which is how the game finished. On a positive note, Sebastian Langkamp played his first minutes since his serious injury sustained during the opening game of the season. Hertha's 2014 ends nexxt Sunday (21.12.14), as they welcome TSG Hoffenheim to the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 17.
(rd,war/City-Press)
The home side took the early initiative and had the ball in the Berlin net after only seconds. Match referee Guido Winkmann rightly ruled the goal out for offside (6.). Hertha tried to get forward at pace after winning possession. After seven minutes Julian Schieber "scored", but Ronny had fouled an opponent during the build so the goal did not stand. Hertha though, remained patient. As has been the case so often this season, it took a set piece for Hertha to break the deadlock, as Ronny curled a crisp ball into the Eintracht box, where defender John Anthony Brooks reacted quickest to strike the ball past helpless Timo Hildebrand (21.). Roy Beerens was forced off early with an injury. He was replaced by Genki Haraguchi.
Super-efficient Hertha lead 3-0
That goal settled the visitors. On 28 minutes Ronny played a superb ball to ƒnis Ben-Hatira with the outside of his boot. The Tunisian however could only blast the ball well over the bar. The Berlin-born Tunisian went one better only five minutes later. A corner taken by Ronny was back-headed towards the far post by Ben-Hatira, and everyone stood mesmorized as the ball flew into the net via the right hand upright. 2-0 to Hertha! Two chances and two goals! Hertha unable to believe their luck continued to threaten, and Ben-Hatira played a low ball from the right into the box where Schieber was lurking to beat Hildebrand for the third time (37.). Eintracht managed to pull a confidence-boosting goal back before the break as Aigner easily netted from point blank range after latching onto a deflected cross (42.). Deep into injury time at the end of the first half, Ben-Hatira narrowly failed to connect with a through ball by Ronny, so the visitors led 3-1 at the break.
The goal shortly before halftime boosted the home side, who emerged for the second half in attacking mode. Meier got a header in but Berlin keeper Kraft was on his guard to punch the ball clear of the danger zone (50.). Kraft also had a curling effort by Inui from the edge of the area which flew narrowly wide of target (54.). The Hertha goalie was then powerless as Frankfurt's Haris Seferovic nodded home a cross to make it 2-3 from the home perspective (58.). Schieber then had a good chance to extend Hertha's lead , following a nice move involving Ben-Hatira. Sadly for the visitors and their travelling fans Hildebrand somewhat fortunately managed to turn his effort around a post for a corner (60.). Ben-Hatira did well to get past Frankfurt's last man Oczipka, but lost to Hildebrand in the resulting one on one situation.
Dramatic ending
Valentin Stocker made his comeback replacing Ronny after around an hour. Hertha looked pretty solid midway through the second half even though the home side had much more of the ball. The visitors remained ever-dangerous on the break. Ben-Hatira found Schieber inside the home box where he went to ground. There was no whistle and the referee waved play on (79.). Just a minute later Ben-Hatira was fouled moving down the right. He took the free kick himself and found Peter Niemmeyer who scored by blasting the ball under the bar. The home side refused to give up and Meier tested Kraft from distance, but the keeper was up to the challenge, and gathered the ball well diving low to his right (83.).
Meier would not be denied though and headed home after a team mate was allowed to cross into the area unchallenged (90.) - but that was not all. In the fifth minute of injury time the ball was back-headed into the path of Meier who incedibly scored again to make it 4-4, which is how the game finished. On a positive note, Sebastian Langkamp played his first minutes since his serious injury sustained during the opening game of the season. Hertha's 2014 ends nexxt Sunday (21.12.14), as they welcome TSG Hoffenheim to the Olympic stadium in Berlin on matchday 17.
(rd,war/City-Press)