Teams | April 6, 2015 at 01:47 AM
Tough Easter Sunday win
Tough Easter Sunday win
Valentin Stocker and Nico Schulz scored as Hertha BSC beat SC Paderborn 2-0.
Berlin - A crowd of 44,031 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin saw home side Hertha BSC beat SC paderborn 2-0 on Bundesliga matchday 27 on Sunday afternoon (05.04.15). Hertha searched for long periods of the game for a gap in Paderborn's tight defence before Valentin Stocker and Nico Schulz finally found the target. It was Hertha's fist Sunday victory in a dozen games. Home coach Pal Dardai was forced to make a single change to his side which won away to HSV last time out, with injured Ben-Hatira being replaced by Genki Haraguchi up front on the left. The visitors fielded the same side which drew 0-0 against TSG Hoffenheim last time out, which meand former Hertha striker Srdjan Lakic began the game against his former club.
There was no real structure visible in the game during the opening minutes. The first goalmouth action came on 5 minutes when Jens Wemmer fired wide of goal following a corner. Moments later Hertha launched their opening counter attack with Valentin Stocker playing the ball nicely into the path of Roy Beerens. The Dutchman's through ball to Salomon Kalou though failed to reach the Ivorian hit man (6.). They were literally the only early "highlights" in a physical game which got bogged down in midfield with points for both sides so crucial. Hertha began to get on top after a quarter of an hour, without it must be said posing much threat in front of goal.
There was no real structure visible in the game during the opening minutes. The first goalmouth action came on 5 minutes when Jens Wemmer fired wide of goal following a corner. Moments later Hertha launched their opening counter attack with Valentin Stocker playing the ball nicely into the path of Roy Beerens. The Dutchman's through ball to Salomon Kalou though failed to reach the Ivorian hit man (6.). They were literally the only early "highlights" in a physical game which got bogged down in midfield with points for both sides so crucial. Hertha began to get on top after a quarter of an hour, without it must be said posing much threat in front of goal.
Patience is a virtue for Hertha
Old habits reared their ugly head as the final telling pass in Hertha's promising moves was simply missing. A well-floated cross from Stocker was cleared in the nick of time as Kalou was about to pull the trigger (15.). Hertha remained patient always searching far elusive hole in the SCP defence. It took a while for the home side to threaten again. Beerens got a way a volley from the right edge of the box, but placed the ball too central and the danger was easily dealt with (32.). A couple of minutes later a nice cross by Plattenhardt found Peter Pekarik lurking at the far post. The defender who had joined the attack, failed to get enough power or direction onto his header (35.). Stocker fired a wayward shot on the turn (40.) and Haraguchi aimed too high (42.). There were no goals in the opening half.
Both teams emerged into the Berlin sunshine unchanged for the second half. As was the case early in the game, Wemmer had Paderborn's first chance of the new half, but missed the target by a country mile following a long ball in the home box (48.). Langkamp then needed a timely challenge to deny Lakic (54.). Stocker beautifully brought down an controlled a pass from Skjelbred inside the box from where he set himself up for a shot but was blocked, as Paderborn cleared their lines at the expense of a corner (56.). Paderborn kept things tight at the back and the home side struggled to find a way through. Stocker found Haraguchi deep inside the Paderborn box, but the Japanese midfielder could only get a toe to the ball and a promising chance went begging (65.).
First time scorers wrap things up
Hardly surprising then that it took a set piece to finally break the deadlock. A free kick from Plattenhardt was tipped onto the crossbar by Paderborn keeper Kruse, but Stocker was perfectly placed to score from the rebound and finally put the home side into the driving seat (68). Almost immediately afterwards home stopper Thomas Kraft was called into action to prevent an instant equaliser. Vrancic ore down alone on the keeper who spread himself well to snuff out the danger (70.). Pál Dárdai then brought on Nico Schulz and Jens Hegeler for the-already booked Beerens and Stocker. The visitors threw caution to the wind which finally gave the capital city side more operating room. A curling effort from Kalou flashed narrowly wide of the far post (77.). The Ivorian threatened again as he dribbled his way through the Paderborn back line, only to be stopped in the last second (82.). The resulting corner was headed just wide by Brooks (83.).
Haraguchi was played into space by Kalou but lost out in a one on one situation with Kruse (87.). It was game over for the visitors a minute later as a perfectly flighted cross by Pekarik was superbly met on the volley at the far post by substitute Schulz who scored with a low left fotted shot (88.). Kraft produced an excellent save to keep out a piledriver from distance from Meha. Lakic put the rebound onto the outside of a post. The deserved victory . They play again on Friday night (10.04.15, 8.30 pm), as they make the short trip to Niedersachsen, where Hannover 96 will pose a stern test on matchday 28.
(rd,war/City-Press)
Old habits reared their ugly head as the final telling pass in Hertha's promising moves was simply missing. A well-floated cross from Stocker was cleared in the nick of time as Kalou was about to pull the trigger (15.). Hertha remained patient always searching far elusive hole in the SCP defence. It took a while for the home side to threaten again. Beerens got a way a volley from the right edge of the box, but placed the ball too central and the danger was easily dealt with (32.). A couple of minutes later a nice cross by Plattenhardt found Peter Pekarik lurking at the far post. The defender who had joined the attack, failed to get enough power or direction onto his header (35.). Stocker fired a wayward shot on the turn (40.) and Haraguchi aimed too high (42.). There were no goals in the opening half.
Both teams emerged into the Berlin sunshine unchanged for the second half. As was the case early in the game, Wemmer had Paderborn's first chance of the new half, but missed the target by a country mile following a long ball in the home box (48.). Langkamp then needed a timely challenge to deny Lakic (54.). Stocker beautifully brought down an controlled a pass from Skjelbred inside the box from where he set himself up for a shot but was blocked, as Paderborn cleared their lines at the expense of a corner (56.). Paderborn kept things tight at the back and the home side struggled to find a way through. Stocker found Haraguchi deep inside the Paderborn box, but the Japanese midfielder could only get a toe to the ball and a promising chance went begging (65.).
First time scorers wrap things up
Hardly surprising then that it took a set piece to finally break the deadlock. A free kick from Plattenhardt was tipped onto the crossbar by Paderborn keeper Kruse, but Stocker was perfectly placed to score from the rebound and finally put the home side into the driving seat (68). Almost immediately afterwards home stopper Thomas Kraft was called into action to prevent an instant equaliser. Vrancic ore down alone on the keeper who spread himself well to snuff out the danger (70.). Pál Dárdai then brought on Nico Schulz and Jens Hegeler for the-already booked Beerens and Stocker. The visitors threw caution to the wind which finally gave the capital city side more operating room. A curling effort from Kalou flashed narrowly wide of the far post (77.). The Ivorian threatened again as he dribbled his way through the Paderborn back line, only to be stopped in the last second (82.). The resulting corner was headed just wide by Brooks (83.).
Haraguchi was played into space by Kalou but lost out in a one on one situation with Kruse (87.). It was game over for the visitors a minute later as a perfectly flighted cross by Pekarik was superbly met on the volley at the far post by substitute Schulz who scored with a low left fotted shot (88.). Kraft produced an excellent save to keep out a piledriver from distance from Meha. Lakic put the rebound onto the outside of a post. The deserved victory . They play again on Friday night (10.04.15, 8.30 pm), as they make the short trip to Niedersachsen, where Hannover 96 will pose a stern test on matchday 28.
(rd,war/City-Press)