Teams | February 22, 2015 at 11:59 PM
Narrow defeat
Narrow defeat
Hertha BSC lost 1-2 at VfL Wolfsburg - Julian Schieber equalised for the visitors.
Wolfsburg - Despite a much-improved improved performance to that displayed in the game against Freiburg last time out, Hertha BSC lost 1-2 away to high-flying VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday evening (22.02.15) on Bundesliga matchday 22 at the VW Arena. Berlin captain Fabian Lustenberger returned from suspension, replacing Ronny who reverted to the bench. A bout of flu prevented Plattenhardt's participation, so Nico Schulz took over at left back, while Marcel Ndjeng returned to the team on the right wing. Africa Cup of Nations winner Salomon Kalou led the line with Julian Schieber to his left. Second-placed Wolfsburg made just one change to the side which lost 0-1 at FC Sevilla in the Europa League on Thursday night, with Luiz Gustavo replacing Aaron Hunt who missed out through injury.
The game began on an even keel, viod of any highlights from either team. That changed on 10 minutes as the home side scored with their first real attack of the game. World Cup winner AndrÈ Sch¸rrle back headed a cross into the path of danger man Bas Dost per Kopf in die Mitte auf Bas Dost, who scored his tenth goal of the season with a low shot past Thomas Kraft. The Wolves began to take control, but the visitors were alwaays looking for a chance to hit them on the break. A pinpoint cross by Valentin Stocker found Kalou on the edge of the home area, but the Ivorian failed to control the ball properly, allowing home keeper Diego Benaglion to easily deal with the danger (22.). Five minutes later Kalou was in a promising position again, but failed to get past man-mountain Brazilian defender Naldo (27.).
Schieber's diving header leveller
Hertha stuck to their task and were rewarded on the half hour mark, after Stocker broke well down the right before producing a pinpoint cross into the middle, where Schieber met it to equalise with a diving header (30.). The visitors were now playing more of a part in things, with front men Schieber and Kalou often swapping positions or at times operating as a two-pronged attack. Wolfsburg remained dangerous though and Sch¸rrle got a shot away from an acute angle which only hit the side-netting. The recent big money acquisition from Chelsea has yet to score for his new club (39.), Kevin de Bruyne then aimed a shot from 20 metres a little too high and Kraft was grateful to see it fizz over his crossbar (42.). There were no further goals before the break so the opening half ended 1-1.
New Berlin coach P·l D·rdai kept faith with his side from the first half for the time being, and not much changed in the game either, as both sides floated free kicks into the opposing areas, but neither Rodriguez (50.), or Ndjeng at the other end could find the back of the net (51.). Hertha fought bravely, but the home side found their way into their box on occasion. De Bruyne tested Kraft with a low effort which the Berlin stopper buried under his body (54.), before Dost set up Sch¸rrle, who could only blaze the ball over the bar (58.). The winter signing also missed with a header (66.) and with a shot on the turn (72.).
Killer Dost at the double
Roy Beerens then replaced Ndjeng, as Dardai tried to breathe new life into his front line, but it would be the Wolves who would prove more clinical in front of goal. A shot by Luiz Gustavo struck a post before falling to the feet of Dost, who easily mopped up from close range to put his side in the driving seat again and complete his brace (74.). D·rdai brought on Ronny for Stocker, but the home side continued to pound Hertha, forcing Kraft to punch a de Bruyne effort from the right out of the danger zone (78.). Wolfsburg began to sit back on their lead and wait to hit Hertha with counter attacks. Kraft once again denied Sch¸rrle, with a superb save as his shot looked like flying into the top right hand corner of the net (87.). Moments later Schulz found Beerens with a fine through ball, but the Dutchman was ruled to be just offside while about to bear down on Benaglio alone (88.).
Schieber broke down the left, but Benaglio reached his cross a split second ahead of Kalou (90.). That was the final chance of the game and Hertha lost by the odd goal to the team in second place in the Bundesliga table. Dardai's men are in action again next weekend as they take on FC Augsburg at the Olympic stadium in the capital city. The game is on Saturday (28.02.15, 330 pm). A victory in that game could see Hertha move out of second bottom place in the table where this latest defeat has left them. Valentin Stocker will not feature, because he picked up a fifth booking in Wolfsburg and is suspended.
(rd,war/City-Press)
The game began on an even keel, viod of any highlights from either team. That changed on 10 minutes as the home side scored with their first real attack of the game. World Cup winner AndrÈ Sch¸rrle back headed a cross into the path of danger man Bas Dost per Kopf in die Mitte auf Bas Dost, who scored his tenth goal of the season with a low shot past Thomas Kraft. The Wolves began to take control, but the visitors were alwaays looking for a chance to hit them on the break. A pinpoint cross by Valentin Stocker found Kalou on the edge of the home area, but the Ivorian failed to control the ball properly, allowing home keeper Diego Benaglion to easily deal with the danger (22.). Five minutes later Kalou was in a promising position again, but failed to get past man-mountain Brazilian defender Naldo (27.).
Schieber's diving header leveller
Hertha stuck to their task and were rewarded on the half hour mark, after Stocker broke well down the right before producing a pinpoint cross into the middle, where Schieber met it to equalise with a diving header (30.). The visitors were now playing more of a part in things, with front men Schieber and Kalou often swapping positions or at times operating as a two-pronged attack. Wolfsburg remained dangerous though and Sch¸rrle got a shot away from an acute angle which only hit the side-netting. The recent big money acquisition from Chelsea has yet to score for his new club (39.), Kevin de Bruyne then aimed a shot from 20 metres a little too high and Kraft was grateful to see it fizz over his crossbar (42.). There were no further goals before the break so the opening half ended 1-1.
New Berlin coach P·l D·rdai kept faith with his side from the first half for the time being, and not much changed in the game either, as both sides floated free kicks into the opposing areas, but neither Rodriguez (50.), or Ndjeng at the other end could find the back of the net (51.). Hertha fought bravely, but the home side found their way into their box on occasion. De Bruyne tested Kraft with a low effort which the Berlin stopper buried under his body (54.), before Dost set up Sch¸rrle, who could only blaze the ball over the bar (58.). The winter signing also missed with a header (66.) and with a shot on the turn (72.).
Killer Dost at the double
Roy Beerens then replaced Ndjeng, as Dardai tried to breathe new life into his front line, but it would be the Wolves who would prove more clinical in front of goal. A shot by Luiz Gustavo struck a post before falling to the feet of Dost, who easily mopped up from close range to put his side in the driving seat again and complete his brace (74.). D·rdai brought on Ronny for Stocker, but the home side continued to pound Hertha, forcing Kraft to punch a de Bruyne effort from the right out of the danger zone (78.). Wolfsburg began to sit back on their lead and wait to hit Hertha with counter attacks. Kraft once again denied Sch¸rrle, with a superb save as his shot looked like flying into the top right hand corner of the net (87.). Moments later Schulz found Beerens with a fine through ball, but the Dutchman was ruled to be just offside while about to bear down on Benaglio alone (88.).
Schieber broke down the left, but Benaglio reached his cross a split second ahead of Kalou (90.). That was the final chance of the game and Hertha lost by the odd goal to the team in second place in the Bundesliga table. Dardai's men are in action again next weekend as they take on FC Augsburg at the Olympic stadium in the capital city. The game is on Saturday (28.02.15, 330 pm). A victory in that game could see Hertha move out of second bottom place in the table where this latest defeat has left them. Valentin Stocker will not feature, because he picked up a fifth booking in Wolfsburg and is suspended.
(rd,war/City-Press)