Teams | April 11, 2015 at 03:02 PM
Artistic away point
Artistic away point
Valentin Stocker scored a superb late equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Hannover.
Hannover - Hertha took a crucial away point away to Hannover 96 on Friday night (10.04.15). Valentin Stocker netted an excellent and well deserved equaliser on 83 minutes, in front of an almost capacity crowd of 46,000 inside the HDI Arena in a Bundesliga matchday 28 opener. Hertha boss Pal Dardai made just one change to the team which beat SC Paderborn last time out, with the-injured Plattenhardt being replaced by Nico Schulz. The home side also made a solitary switch after bagging an important point at Hoffenheim on matchday 27: Prib was replaced by Albornoz.
The game began with tough tackling in midfield as both sides tried to take the early initiative. A wayward Felipe header following a corner was the first goalmouth action after 10 minutes. After withstanding an opening period of pressure by the home side, Hertha began to find their way into the game. Once again it took a set piece for them to record their first effort on goal. John Anthony Brooks put the rebound from a free kick into the back of the net, but Sebastian Langkamp was offside as he took the first shot (15.). Next Haraguchi pounced on a poor clearance by the home defence. But his effort was kept out by a save from home keeper Ron-Robert Zieler (24.). Two minutes late Kalou stole into the 96 box, only to be thwarted by a timely challenge by Felipe at the cost of a corner which came to nothing.
The game began with tough tackling in midfield as both sides tried to take the early initiative. A wayward Felipe header following a corner was the first goalmouth action after 10 minutes. After withstanding an opening period of pressure by the home side, Hertha began to find their way into the game. Once again it took a set piece for them to record their first effort on goal. John Anthony Brooks put the rebound from a free kick into the back of the net, but Sebastian Langkamp was offside as he took the first shot (15.). Next Haraguchi pounced on a poor clearance by the home defence. But his effort was kept out by a save from home keeper Ron-Robert Zieler (24.). Two minutes late Kalou stole into the 96 box, only to be thwarted by a timely challenge by Felipe at the cost of a corner which came to nothing.
Missing killer pass
With both teams matching each other in midfield and defence set pieces became key. Hannover's Salif Sané nodded a floated free kick into the arms of Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft. The next attack was also stopped by foul, but Per Skjelbred's cross into the home box found no takers and was easily dealt with by Zieler (32.). Both sides threatened again before the break. Firstly Jimmy Briand headed over a pinpoint cross (34.), before Valentin Stocker was nicely set up by good approach work from Haraguci, only to see his shot on the turn narrowly fly over the crossbar (38.). Skjelbred then sent a defence-splitting ball into the box to Stocker who went down under a challenge. The whistle of match referee Marco Fritz however rightly remained silent. The game was goalless at halftime.
Neither coach made any changes during the break. Hertha received a wake up call on 50 minutes as 96 captain Stindl struck an upright from distance. The Niedersachsen hosts had more of the ball but failed to break down Hertha's well organised defence, which had boasted four cleans sheets in as many games before kick off. The huge home crowd began to get edgy. Dardai brought on Jens Hegeler for Beerens after around an hour. On 71 minutes Zieler was forced to clear his lines outside his area and Lustenberger tried to find Kalou with a quick through ball, but the home defence was alert to the danger and managed to counter the threat.
Stocker's wonderfully artistic equaliser
Peter Niemeyer replaced Lustenberger for the final quarter of the game, but it would be the home side who would finally break the deadlock. Kraft made two blocks from point blank range, but could not prevent Christain Schultz from scrambling the ball home from a metre out at the third attempt to open the scoring (75.) The visitors had to open up and open up they did. Kalou then did well breaking down the left from where he found Haraguchi, but the effort of the Nippon man was once again blocked (78.). Hegeler (80.) and Skjelbred tried their luck from distance after being set up by substitute Sandro Wagner (82.), but neither effort posed a problem for Zieler. Valentin Stocker though went one better only two minutes later: The Swiss striker somehow arched his body to unleash a left footed shot from the edge of the area (see photo) which flew past Zieler and into the net, sending the massive contingent of Berlin faithful into raptures, what a strike!
Both sides tried hard to get their noses in front with Hannover winning a series of corners all of which were dealt with by the visiting team who defended well to a man. Hertha hit them on the break but once again the final telling pass was missing. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. A crucial away point for the capital city side in their quest to put as much space between themselves and the dreaded drop zone and two points dropped by Hannover. The draw saw Dardai and Co. extend their unbeaten run to six matches. Next Saturday Hertha entertain 1. FC Köln at the Olympic stadium on matchday 29.
(rd,war/City-Press)
With both teams matching each other in midfield and defence set pieces became key. Hannover's Salif Sané nodded a floated free kick into the arms of Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft. The next attack was also stopped by foul, but Per Skjelbred's cross into the home box found no takers and was easily dealt with by Zieler (32.). Both sides threatened again before the break. Firstly Jimmy Briand headed over a pinpoint cross (34.), before Valentin Stocker was nicely set up by good approach work from Haraguci, only to see his shot on the turn narrowly fly over the crossbar (38.). Skjelbred then sent a defence-splitting ball into the box to Stocker who went down under a challenge. The whistle of match referee Marco Fritz however rightly remained silent. The game was goalless at halftime.
Neither coach made any changes during the break. Hertha received a wake up call on 50 minutes as 96 captain Stindl struck an upright from distance. The Niedersachsen hosts had more of the ball but failed to break down Hertha's well organised defence, which had boasted four cleans sheets in as many games before kick off. The huge home crowd began to get edgy. Dardai brought on Jens Hegeler for Beerens after around an hour. On 71 minutes Zieler was forced to clear his lines outside his area and Lustenberger tried to find Kalou with a quick through ball, but the home defence was alert to the danger and managed to counter the threat.
Stocker's wonderfully artistic equaliser
Peter Niemeyer replaced Lustenberger for the final quarter of the game, but it would be the home side who would finally break the deadlock. Kraft made two blocks from point blank range, but could not prevent Christain Schultz from scrambling the ball home from a metre out at the third attempt to open the scoring (75.) The visitors had to open up and open up they did. Kalou then did well breaking down the left from where he found Haraguchi, but the effort of the Nippon man was once again blocked (78.). Hegeler (80.) and Skjelbred tried their luck from distance after being set up by substitute Sandro Wagner (82.), but neither effort posed a problem for Zieler. Valentin Stocker though went one better only two minutes later: The Swiss striker somehow arched his body to unleash a left footed shot from the edge of the area (see photo) which flew past Zieler and into the net, sending the massive contingent of Berlin faithful into raptures, what a strike!
Both sides tried hard to get their noses in front with Hannover winning a series of corners all of which were dealt with by the visiting team who defended well to a man. Hertha hit them on the break but once again the final telling pass was missing. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. A crucial away point for the capital city side in their quest to put as much space between themselves and the dreaded drop zone and two points dropped by Hannover. The draw saw Dardai and Co. extend their unbeaten run to six matches. Next Saturday Hertha entertain 1. FC Köln at the Olympic stadium on matchday 29.
(rd,war/City-Press)