Teams | August 30, 2015 at 10:53 PM
Courage not rewarded
Courage not rewarded
Hertha BSC lost 1-3 at Borussia Dortmund on Bundesliga matchday 3 on Sunday afternoon.
Dortmund - Hertha returned to the capital city empty handed after losing 1-3 away to Borussia Dortmund in front of 80,500, inside the sun-drenched Signal Iduna Park in a Bundesliga matchday 3 encounter on Sunday afternoon (30.08.15). The visitors began brightly enough but Borussia broke the deadlock through a set piece which was their first chance of the game. Dortmund increased their lead in the second half and substitute Salomon Kalou scored what turned out to be a consolation goal for Hertha. Former Berlin striker Adrian Ramos scored Dortmund's third and final goal.
Berlin coach Pal Dardai made two changes to the team which drew 1-1 at home to Werder Bremen last Friday night, with John Anthony Brooks and Johannes van den Bergh replacing Salomon Kalou and the-injured Jens Hegeler. Genki Haraguchi began up front for the Berliners while Johannes van den Bergh lined up in left midfield. Captain Fabian Lustenberger played alongside Per Ciljan Skjelbred in defensive midfield and Brooks and Sebastian Langkamp formed the heart of the Berlin defence. Tolga Cigerci, who missed most of last season with a toe injury made the squad for the first time in an age. New signing Niklas Stark also made the squad.
The game began in sweltering heat and the visitors did well to keep the home side at bay early on. Hertha created the opening chance of the game, as Haraguchi ran onto a long ball from Johannes van den Bergh. Germany centre back Mats Hummels was on hand though to deny the Japanese striker and clear the ball away for a corner(15.). Five minutes later Hertha threatened again as a cross from Marvin Plattenhardt reached Vladimir Darida. His fierce effort was punched out of the danger zone by home keeper B¸rki (20.). A break for drinks was held midway through the opening half because of the extreme temperature. Dortmund profited more from it because following a corner, Kagawa was allowed to produce a pinpoint cross to the far post where Hummels hardly had to jump to head Borussia in front from point blank range. That goal boosted the home side and on 39 minutes a fierce shot by Mkhitaryan forced Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft to quickly raise his fists to punch the ball away (39.). Dortmund led 1-0 at halftime.
Dardai made a single change during the break, brining on new signing Mitchell Weiser r¸ckte for Valentin Stocker. Dortmund assumed control again. Mkhitaryan narrowly missed connecting with a crisp ball in from the left by Reus while being challenged by Berlin full back Pekarik (48.). Shortly afterwards Dortmund led 2-0 after Kagawa found Reus, who in turn produced a clever pass into the path of Aubameyang who easily scored from close range (51.). Hertha won a corner after Lustenberger back headed a free kick towards the far post and Burki was forced to push the ball behind (63.). Dardai introduced Alexander Baumjohann and Salomon Kalou hoping to bring fresh wind to his front line. The ploy paid off on 78 minutes as Kalou mopped up after Dortmund failed to clear a shot by Vladimir Darida. The visitors continued searching for an equaliser but it was game over when their former striker came back to haunt them. Adrian Ramos scored to make the final score 3-1 to Borussia. After the break for international games Hertha entertain VfB Stuttgart at the Olympic stadium in Berlin (12.09.15, 3.30 pm).
The game began in sweltering heat and the visitors did well to keep the home side at bay early on. Hertha created the opening chance of the game, as Haraguchi ran onto a long ball from Johannes van den Bergh. Germany centre back Mats Hummels was on hand though to deny the Japanese striker and clear the ball away for a corner(15.). Five minutes later Hertha threatened again as a cross from Marvin Plattenhardt reached Vladimir Darida. His fierce effort was punched out of the danger zone by home keeper B¸rki (20.). A break for drinks was held midway through the opening half because of the extreme temperature. Dortmund profited more from it because following a corner, Kagawa was allowed to produce a pinpoint cross to the far post where Hummels hardly had to jump to head Borussia in front from point blank range. That goal boosted the home side and on 39 minutes a fierce shot by Mkhitaryan forced Berlin stopper Thomas Kraft to quickly raise his fists to punch the ball away (39.). Dortmund led 1-0 at halftime.
Dardai made a single change during the break, brining on new signing Mitchell Weiser r¸ckte for Valentin Stocker. Dortmund assumed control again. Mkhitaryan narrowly missed connecting with a crisp ball in from the left by Reus while being challenged by Berlin full back Pekarik (48.). Shortly afterwards Dortmund led 2-0 after Kagawa found Reus, who in turn produced a clever pass into the path of Aubameyang who easily scored from close range (51.). Hertha won a corner after Lustenberger back headed a free kick towards the far post and Burki was forced to push the ball behind (63.). Dardai introduced Alexander Baumjohann and Salomon Kalou hoping to bring fresh wind to his front line. The ploy paid off on 78 minutes as Kalou mopped up after Dortmund failed to clear a shot by Vladimir Darida. The visitors continued searching for an equaliser but it was game over when their former striker came back to haunt them. Adrian Ramos scored to make the final score 3-1 to Borussia. After the break for international games Hertha entertain VfB Stuttgart at the Olympic stadium in Berlin (12.09.15, 3.30 pm).