Teams | April 26, 2015 at 01:11 AM
So close...
So close...
Hertha BSC lost 0-1 away to Bayern Munich on Saturday evening despite a fine battling display.
Munich - Hertha gave a superb account of themselves as they took on treble winners Bayern Munich away from home on Saturday evening (25.04.15) in a Bundesliga matchday 30 encounter, played in front of a 75,000 sell out crowd inside the Allianz-Arena in the Bavarian capital. It took an 80th minutes strike by World Cup winner Sebastian Schweinsteiger to seperate the teams. Berlin boss Pal Dardai fielded his usual team with the exception of first choice keeper Thomas Kraft, who missed out with bruised ribs. His place went to stand in stopper Sascha Burchert. Bayern's super star coach Pep Guardiola on the other hand made several changes to the side which trounced FC Porto 6-1 in midweek to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League where they now face FC Barcelona: Schweinsteiger, Dante, Rode, Gaudino and Weiser started instead of Badstuber, Alonso, Rafinha and Bernat.
The visitors in their blue and orange away strip began well and had their first chance after only three minutes, as Bayern's Dante stretched to deflect a crisp ball into the box by Marvin Plattenhardt into his own side netting. After winning the ball in midfield Nico Schulz crossed into the middle, but Valentin Stocker who was lurking at the far post failed to get enough direction onto the ball and a good chance was missed (9.). Bayern threatened for the first time as Thomas Müller sent a header wide of target (14.). Further efforts by Gianluca Gaudino (17.) and Müller (18.) were easily dealt with by Burchert.
The visitors in their blue and orange away strip began well and had their first chance after only three minutes, as Bayern's Dante stretched to deflect a crisp ball into the box by Marvin Plattenhardt into his own side netting. After winning the ball in midfield Nico Schulz crossed into the middle, but Valentin Stocker who was lurking at the far post failed to get enough direction onto the ball and a good chance was missed (9.). Bayern threatened for the first time as Thomas Müller sent a header wide of target (14.). Further efforts by Gianluca Gaudino (17.) and Müller (18.) were easily dealt with by Burchert.
Nico Schulz misses great chance
On 24 minutes Salomon Kalou cut in from the left wing only to see his curling shot fly over the crossbar. Hertha kept things tight at the back rarely allowing Bayern to threaten. Bayern's Berlin-born defender Jerome Boateng tried his luck from distance but lacked accuracy with his shot (35.). That was the final effort of the opening half which ended goalless.
Hertha took to the field ahead of Bayern after the break and were first to threaten too as Genki Haraguchi had a shot from the edge of the area blocked (49.). At the other end a cross by Weiser turned into a lob, but Burchert was on his guard to avert the danger (52.). The visitors remained focused. Stocker's shot on 54 minute lacked the power needed to beat World Cup winning keeper Manuel Neuer, who only moments later remained calm as Nico Schulz bore down on him alone following a defence-splitting through ball from Haraguchi.
Bayern had more luck in front of goal
After around an hour Dardai replaced Kalou with Marcel Ndjeng, who took over the left wing allowing Schulz to move into the role of central striker. Boateng attempted another long range shot which only landed in the arms of Burchert (67.). Then Dardai brought on Jens Hegeler for Stocker. Guradiola introduced fresh legs with Thiago and Pizarro. Burchert was then made to stretch in order to turn a header from Lewandowski around a post (76.). Four minutes later Weiser broke down the right before finding Schweinsteiger unmarked in the middle from where he broke the deadlock (80.).
In a final throw of the dice Sandro Wagner replaced Schulz up front. Burchert prevented Lewandowski from doubling the Bavarians' lead (87.), while moments Wagner was in the Munich box but failed to net from a very acute angle (88.). In the end Hertha lost the game 0-1 and now face another top team on matchday 31 - as former Hertha boss Lucien Favre and his Borussia Mönchengladbach side visit the Olympic stadium in the capital city next Sunday (03.05.15, 5.30 pm).
(rd,war/City-Press)
On 24 minutes Salomon Kalou cut in from the left wing only to see his curling shot fly over the crossbar. Hertha kept things tight at the back rarely allowing Bayern to threaten. Bayern's Berlin-born defender Jerome Boateng tried his luck from distance but lacked accuracy with his shot (35.). That was the final effort of the opening half which ended goalless.
Hertha took to the field ahead of Bayern after the break and were first to threaten too as Genki Haraguchi had a shot from the edge of the area blocked (49.). At the other end a cross by Weiser turned into a lob, but Burchert was on his guard to avert the danger (52.). The visitors remained focused. Stocker's shot on 54 minute lacked the power needed to beat World Cup winning keeper Manuel Neuer, who only moments later remained calm as Nico Schulz bore down on him alone following a defence-splitting through ball from Haraguchi.
Bayern had more luck in front of goal
After around an hour Dardai replaced Kalou with Marcel Ndjeng, who took over the left wing allowing Schulz to move into the role of central striker. Boateng attempted another long range shot which only landed in the arms of Burchert (67.). Then Dardai brought on Jens Hegeler for Stocker. Guradiola introduced fresh legs with Thiago and Pizarro. Burchert was then made to stretch in order to turn a header from Lewandowski around a post (76.). Four minutes later Weiser broke down the right before finding Schweinsteiger unmarked in the middle from where he broke the deadlock (80.).
In a final throw of the dice Sandro Wagner replaced Schulz up front. Burchert prevented Lewandowski from doubling the Bavarians' lead (87.), while moments Wagner was in the Munich box but failed to net from a very acute angle (88.). In the end Hertha lost the game 0-1 and now face another top team on matchday 31 - as former Hertha boss Lucien Favre and his Borussia Mönchengladbach side visit the Olympic stadium in the capital city next Sunday (03.05.15, 5.30 pm).
(rd,war/City-Press)