Teams | May 23, 2015 at 11:43 PM
Hertha safe!
Hertha safe!
Hertha lost 1-2 on matchday 34 in Hoffenheim but remain in the Bundesliga.
Sinsheim - Hertha saved their Bundesliga bacon on the final day of the season on Saturday afternoon. Coach Pal Dardai's side lost 1-2 away to TSG Hoffenheim, but other results meant that the capital city side live to fight another day in the top flight. Dardai made just a single change to the side which faced Frankfurt last time out, with Dutchman John Heitinga replacing suspended central defender John Anthony Brooks. Heitinga lined up alongside Sebastian Langkamp at the heart of Hertha's defence. Home coach Markus Gisdol made two changes to the team which played Leverkusen away last time out: Toljan replaced Kim at the back, while Roberto Firmino returned from suspension at the expense of Elyounoussi, who reverted to the bench.
A sell out crowd of 30,150 saw the visitors take the early initiative, putting TSG under some early pressure. Hertha's Stocker turned up near the TSG box within the opening minute and could only be stopped by a foul. The resulting free kick by Marvin Plattenhardt flew just over the crossbar (2.). Moments later Salomon Kalou nodded a cross by Genki Haraguchi narrowly over.
A sell out crowd of 30,150 saw the visitors take the early initiative, putting TSG under some early pressure. Hertha's Stocker turned up near the TSG box within the opening minute and could only be stopped by a foul. The resulting free kick by Marvin Plattenhardt flew just over the crossbar (2.). Moments later Salomon Kalou nodded a cross by Genki Haraguchi narrowly over.
Early turbulence
Hoffenheim then opened the scoring out of the blue. Firmino found Modeste inside the Berlin box from where he coolly broke the deadlock with a low shot at the near post (8.). Hertha stuck to their task still trying to get forward as often as possible. Pekarik impressed down the wing. The Slovakian provided a pinpoint cross onto the head of Kalou, who once again aimed too high (13.).Things calmed somewhat down after that, but the visitors kept plugging away, switching quickly after winning second ball.
On one of those occasions Haraguchi played a sweet through ball into the path of Stocker, but Hoffenheim's defence somehow managed to get the ball back to their keeper Baumann before the Berliner could pull the trigger (28.). Hertha kept pressing and Haraguchi nodded yet another Pekarik cross over the bar (32.), Baumann then had to be quick to nick the ball off the head of Kalou as he looked likely to score (38.). That was it for the first half which ended with Hertha a goal down.
Substitution pays off
Hoffenheim took their time before emerging for the secod half unchanged, as were Hertha. Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft was soon in action as a cross by Kevin Volland became longer and longer. The stopper though dealt with the situation (47.). Not long afterwards Kalou tried to feed Skjelbred from a one two, but the pass was just too long for the Scandinavian (53.). On 64 minutes Dardai brought on Roy Beerens for luckless Kalou.It only took eight minutes for the ploy to pay off. Beerens took possession of a blocked ball, before moving inside the home area and finishing well onto the bottom left hand corner of Baumann's net (72.).
The effort took a slight defelection on its way in but Hertha were level. The capital city side were only on level terms for eight minutes Firstly a free kick by Abraham only hit the defensive wall. Then the rebound was well saved by Kraft who was sadly powerless to save the final shot which put TSG ahead again (80.). There was no further goalmouth action and the game ended 2-1 to Hoffenheim.
(rd,mf/City-Press)
Hoffenheim then opened the scoring out of the blue. Firmino found Modeste inside the Berlin box from where he coolly broke the deadlock with a low shot at the near post (8.). Hertha stuck to their task still trying to get forward as often as possible. Pekarik impressed down the wing. The Slovakian provided a pinpoint cross onto the head of Kalou, who once again aimed too high (13.).Things calmed somewhat down after that, but the visitors kept plugging away, switching quickly after winning second ball.
On one of those occasions Haraguchi played a sweet through ball into the path of Stocker, but Hoffenheim's defence somehow managed to get the ball back to their keeper Baumann before the Berliner could pull the trigger (28.). Hertha kept pressing and Haraguchi nodded yet another Pekarik cross over the bar (32.), Baumann then had to be quick to nick the ball off the head of Kalou as he looked likely to score (38.). That was it for the first half which ended with Hertha a goal down.
Substitution pays off
Hoffenheim took their time before emerging for the secod half unchanged, as were Hertha. Berlin keeper Thomas Kraft was soon in action as a cross by Kevin Volland became longer and longer. The stopper though dealt with the situation (47.). Not long afterwards Kalou tried to feed Skjelbred from a one two, but the pass was just too long for the Scandinavian (53.). On 64 minutes Dardai brought on Roy Beerens for luckless Kalou.It only took eight minutes for the ploy to pay off. Beerens took possession of a blocked ball, before moving inside the home area and finishing well onto the bottom left hand corner of Baumann's net (72.).
The effort took a slight defelection on its way in but Hertha were level. The capital city side were only on level terms for eight minutes Firstly a free kick by Abraham only hit the defensive wall. Then the rebound was well saved by Kraft who was sadly powerless to save the final shot which put TSG ahead again (80.). There was no further goalmouth action and the game ended 2-1 to Hoffenheim.
(rd,mf/City-Press)