Teams | February 2, 2015 at 12:07 PM
0-2 defeat in Bremen
0-2 defeat in Bremen
Hertha BSC lose 0-2 in Bremen on Bundesliga matchday 18.
Bremen - Hertha lost the opening game of the second half of the Bundesliga season 0-2 away to Werder Bremen on Sunday afternoon (01.02.15). Hertha's John Heitinga complained of a calf problem and returned to Berlin while the others were on their way to the Weserstadion. Plattenhardt was called up to replace the Dutchman. Captain Fabian Lustenberger and Sebastian Langkamp returned to the starting line-up from injury and alongside USA man-mountain defender John Anthony Brooks formed the Berlin central back three, with Nico Schulz and Peter Pekarik in the wide positions. Beerens became fit in time for the trip north, but had to sit on the bench. Hosogai missed out through suspension, while Skjelbred and Ben-Hatira lost out through injury. The host side had two new faces in their starting eleven in Janick Vestergaard and Levin Öztunali.
Both teams wore black armbands in honour of the recently departed VfL Wolfsburg youngster Junior Malanda. After the minute-long silence to honour the youngster, the game began intensively. While Hertha stalwart (and former Werder man) Niemeyer was receiving treatment to a bloody head wound, the home side got some opening warning shots away, with Vestergaard sending a shot inches over the crossbar (6.), before an effort by Selke was gratefully dealt with by Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft (9.). Moments later Hertha mounted a counter attack of their own with Stocker breaking down the left from where he cut the ball back to Schulz, who was challenged just before he was able to pull the trigger (10.). Stocker then let fly with a volley from 20 metres following a corner, but aimed his effort a little too high (17.). Bremen had more of the ball. On 22 minutes Kraft needed all of his considerable frame to superbly tip an effort by Selke from the edge of the box around the far post.
Di Santo opens scoring
Match referee Dr. Felix Brxch seemed a bit fussy at times, interrupting useful looking moves as both teams became more determined in the tackle. It was two bookings each at the break. The newly-formed Hertha defence looked solid for the most part, constricting Werder to shots from distance. On 41 minutes Bargfrede once again missed the target. Berlin continued to sit back and wait for a chance to his remen on the break. In one of those attacks, Stocker found Schulz, but the youngster needed too much time on the ball and was disposessed (42.). A bit of technical brilliance then finally broke the deadlock for the home side, as Franco di Santo received the ball just outside the right edge of the Berlin box, before advancing inside and chipping Kraft from an acute angle. The keeper got a fingertip to the ball but failed to keep it out (43.). Schulz had another half chance before the break after being played in by Ronny. Once again the lad was unlucky as he failed to connect properly with the ball (45.). The hosts led 1-0 at the break.
Berlin boss Jos Luhukay made two changes during halftime, bringing on Marcel Ndjeng and Johannes van den Bergh for Niemeyer and luckless Schulz. The visitors had a bit of early possession but once again it would be the home side who would threaten first, as Zlatko Junuzovic tried his luck from distance, only to see Kraft tip the ball over his crossbar(51.). Werder appeared to sit back on their slender lead. Trouble was: Hertha looked clueless in midfield once again failing to produce enough ammunition to their front men inside the final third. Bargfrede sent an effort from distance fizzing narrowly wide of the right hand upright (68.). Then it was the turn of di Santo to show a little more of his magic. The Argentinian took a cross from the right on the half volley, leaving Kraft groping at air as Werder made it 2-0 on 69 minutes.
Leverkusen next on Wednesday night
Luhukay replaced Ronny with striker Sandro Wagner, but the second goal was still playing on the minds of his men and the change made little difference After the second goal went in, the gamed got boggerd down between both boxes. Kraft saved a Selke effort late on (88.), before moments later at the other end home keeper Wolf denied Wagner (89.). Two minutes were added on by Brych at the end of the game but the score remained 2-0 to Werder. Luckily the capital city dide don't have long to dwell on the deserved defeat. On Wedenesday they entertain Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic stadium in Berlin in a matchday 19 encounter on Wednesday night (04.02.15). That game under the floodlights kicks off at 8.00 pm.
Both teams wore black armbands in honour of the recently departed VfL Wolfsburg youngster Junior Malanda. After the minute-long silence to honour the youngster, the game began intensively. While Hertha stalwart (and former Werder man) Niemeyer was receiving treatment to a bloody head wound, the home side got some opening warning shots away, with Vestergaard sending a shot inches over the crossbar (6.), before an effort by Selke was gratefully dealt with by Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft (9.). Moments later Hertha mounted a counter attack of their own with Stocker breaking down the left from where he cut the ball back to Schulz, who was challenged just before he was able to pull the trigger (10.). Stocker then let fly with a volley from 20 metres following a corner, but aimed his effort a little too high (17.). Bremen had more of the ball. On 22 minutes Kraft needed all of his considerable frame to superbly tip an effort by Selke from the edge of the box around the far post.
Di Santo opens scoring
Match referee Dr. Felix Brxch seemed a bit fussy at times, interrupting useful looking moves as both teams became more determined in the tackle. It was two bookings each at the break. The newly-formed Hertha defence looked solid for the most part, constricting Werder to shots from distance. On 41 minutes Bargfrede once again missed the target. Berlin continued to sit back and wait for a chance to his remen on the break. In one of those attacks, Stocker found Schulz, but the youngster needed too much time on the ball and was disposessed (42.). A bit of technical brilliance then finally broke the deadlock for the home side, as Franco di Santo received the ball just outside the right edge of the Berlin box, before advancing inside and chipping Kraft from an acute angle. The keeper got a fingertip to the ball but failed to keep it out (43.). Schulz had another half chance before the break after being played in by Ronny. Once again the lad was unlucky as he failed to connect properly with the ball (45.). The hosts led 1-0 at the break.
Berlin boss Jos Luhukay made two changes during halftime, bringing on Marcel Ndjeng and Johannes van den Bergh for Niemeyer and luckless Schulz. The visitors had a bit of early possession but once again it would be the home side who would threaten first, as Zlatko Junuzovic tried his luck from distance, only to see Kraft tip the ball over his crossbar(51.). Werder appeared to sit back on their slender lead. Trouble was: Hertha looked clueless in midfield once again failing to produce enough ammunition to their front men inside the final third. Bargfrede sent an effort from distance fizzing narrowly wide of the right hand upright (68.). Then it was the turn of di Santo to show a little more of his magic. The Argentinian took a cross from the right on the half volley, leaving Kraft groping at air as Werder made it 2-0 on 69 minutes.
Leverkusen next on Wednesday night
Luhukay replaced Ronny with striker Sandro Wagner, but the second goal was still playing on the minds of his men and the change made little difference After the second goal went in, the gamed got boggerd down between both boxes. Kraft saved a Selke effort late on (88.), before moments later at the other end home keeper Wolf denied Wagner (89.). Two minutes were added on by Brych at the end of the game but the score remained 2-0 to Werder. Luckily the capital city dide don't have long to dwell on the deserved defeat. On Wedenesday they entertain Bayer Leverkusen at the Olympic stadium in Berlin in a matchday 19 encounter on Wednesday night (04.02.15). That game under the floodlights kicks off at 8.00 pm.