Teams | December 22, 2014 at 12:38 AM
Bitter end to 2014
Bitter end to 2014
Hertha BSC were beaten 5-0 at home to Hoffenheim on matchday 17.
Berlin - Hertha BSC welcomed TSG Hoffenheim to the Olympic stadium in the nation's capital for the final Bundesliga game of 2014 on Sunday afternoon (21.12.14) A crowd of around 40,000 saw the capital city side lose 0-5. Home boss Jos Luhukay was forced to ring the changes to his side which dramtically drew 4-4 in Frankfurt last time out. Beerens, who was forced off in Frankfurt after a nasty kick was replaced at right back by Marcel Ndjeng. Peter Pekarik took over at left back while Nico Schulz moved up into midfield. The visitors from the Kraichgau region made three changes to the team which lost 0-1 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 16: Eugen Polanski, former Hertha man Sejad Salihovic and Sven Schipplock replaced Rudy, Elyounoussi and Szalai respectively.
The visitors had more possession early on but their passing accuracy was anything but top drawer. Hertha had the opening half chance of the game, as ƒnis Ben-Hatira put a crisp low ball into the box which was narrowly missed by Julian Schieber (5.). Things became more dangerous after a quarter of an hour, as Hertha struggled to clear a Hoffenheim corner and Kevin Volland had a shot blocked (15.). Hertha were then unlucky to fall a goal behind, as a Volland cross landed at the feet of Brooks, who unluckily turned the ball past his own keeper and into the net (23.).
An own goal and two spot kicks
Brooks was in the spotlight again only three minutes later, as he tackled Schipplock who fell inside the Hertha box. Match referee Peter Sippel pointed to the spot and Salihovic coolly slotted home the penalty to make it 2-0 to Hoffenheim (26.). A cross-field ball found Ben-Hatira who failed to trouble Oliver Baumann between the TSG posts with a harmless effort from an acute angle (33.). There was much more danger at the other end as home keeper Thomas Kraft had to stretch to keep out a long distance shot from Polanski which he palmed away for a corner (35.). Referee Peter Sippel then surprised many as he ruled what looked like a normal tackle between Schulz and Beck to be a foul, and awarded another penalty to the visitors. Salihovic scored from the spot to give Hoffenheim a 3-0 halftime lead (39.).
No changes were made during the break. Hertha looked in determined mood. Ronny got a shot away while handily placed, but his effort was blocked by a defender's leg (49.). Five minutes late Schulz broke down the right at pace from where he played a low ball into the area where Ben-Hatira was lurking. The Tunisian could only push the ball to the right of target (54.). After around an hour Luhukay brought on Valentin Stocker for Hosogai hoping for more penetration up front, but the home side looked clueless in front of goal at times. Brooks got his head to a free kick ahead of Baumann, but nodded wide (70.).
Visitors on the counter attack
Luhukay introduced two further strikers for the final 20 minutes with Salomon Kalou and Sandro Wagner replacing Ronny and Pekarik. The visitors had more room to hit Hertha on the break and did so as they broke at speed following a Berlin corner. The home defence was caught cold, which allowed Firmino to play a square ball to the feet of Schipplock who had a simple tap in to make it 4-0 (74.). Hertha continued to press forward but without any luck Stocker failed to connect with the ball properly while only 10 metres out and another chance was squandered (81.). Then Niemeyer lost the ball to Firmino iside the Hertha box. Hoffenheim mounted another swift counter attack which was converted by another simple tap in by Sebastian Rudy (84.).
That was the last action of the game. Hertha will spend the winter break in 13th place in the Bundesliga table. The second half of the season begins for Luhukay and Co. with a trip north to take on Werder Bremen. The players report back for training on January 5th 2015.
The visitors had more possession early on but their passing accuracy was anything but top drawer. Hertha had the opening half chance of the game, as ƒnis Ben-Hatira put a crisp low ball into the box which was narrowly missed by Julian Schieber (5.). Things became more dangerous after a quarter of an hour, as Hertha struggled to clear a Hoffenheim corner and Kevin Volland had a shot blocked (15.). Hertha were then unlucky to fall a goal behind, as a Volland cross landed at the feet of Brooks, who unluckily turned the ball past his own keeper and into the net (23.).
An own goal and two spot kicks
Brooks was in the spotlight again only three minutes later, as he tackled Schipplock who fell inside the Hertha box. Match referee Peter Sippel pointed to the spot and Salihovic coolly slotted home the penalty to make it 2-0 to Hoffenheim (26.). A cross-field ball found Ben-Hatira who failed to trouble Oliver Baumann between the TSG posts with a harmless effort from an acute angle (33.). There was much more danger at the other end as home keeper Thomas Kraft had to stretch to keep out a long distance shot from Polanski which he palmed away for a corner (35.). Referee Peter Sippel then surprised many as he ruled what looked like a normal tackle between Schulz and Beck to be a foul, and awarded another penalty to the visitors. Salihovic scored from the spot to give Hoffenheim a 3-0 halftime lead (39.).
No changes were made during the break. Hertha looked in determined mood. Ronny got a shot away while handily placed, but his effort was blocked by a defender's leg (49.). Five minutes late Schulz broke down the right at pace from where he played a low ball into the area where Ben-Hatira was lurking. The Tunisian could only push the ball to the right of target (54.). After around an hour Luhukay brought on Valentin Stocker for Hosogai hoping for more penetration up front, but the home side looked clueless in front of goal at times. Brooks got his head to a free kick ahead of Baumann, but nodded wide (70.).
Visitors on the counter attack
Luhukay introduced two further strikers for the final 20 minutes with Salomon Kalou and Sandro Wagner replacing Ronny and Pekarik. The visitors had more room to hit Hertha on the break and did so as they broke at speed following a Berlin corner. The home defence was caught cold, which allowed Firmino to play a square ball to the feet of Schipplock who had a simple tap in to make it 4-0 (74.). Hertha continued to press forward but without any luck Stocker failed to connect with the ball properly while only 10 metres out and another chance was squandered (81.). Then Niemeyer lost the ball to Firmino iside the Hertha box. Hoffenheim mounted another swift counter attack which was converted by another simple tap in by Sebastian Rudy (84.).
That was the last action of the game. Hertha will spend the winter break in 13th place in the Bundesliga table. The second half of the season begins for Luhukay and Co. with a trip north to take on Werder Bremen. The players report back for training on January 5th 2015.