Teams | September 23, 2015 at 07:34 PM
2-0: Ibisevic brace!
2-0: Ibisevic brace!
Hertha BSC beat Cologne 2-0 through a brace of goals by Vedad Ibisevic on matchday 6.
Berlin - On Tuesday night (22.09.15), a crowd of 40,181 inside the Olympic stadium in Berlin saw Hertha record their second home win of the season, beating Cologne 2-0. Summer signing Vedad Ibisevic was the hero of the hour, scoring both goals – one in each half.
Home coach Pál Dárdai made three changes to the team which lost away to VfL Wolfsburg last time out. The-splendidly-named Rune Almenning Jarstein replaced injured first choice goalkeeper Thomas Kraft between the posts, while Niklas Stark took the place of Sebastian Langkamp (also injured) in central defence. Hertha opted for a two-pronged attack consisting of Salomon Kalou and Vedad Ibisevic. Tolga Cigerci reverted to the bench. Cologne boss Peter Stöger saw no reason to change his team wi´hich beat rock bottom Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rhein derby on matchday 5. Gladbach’s former Hertha coach Lucien Favre resigned this week.
Home coach Pál Dárdai made three changes to the team which lost away to VfL Wolfsburg last time out. The-splendidly-named Rune Almenning Jarstein replaced injured first choice goalkeeper Thomas Kraft between the posts, while Niklas Stark took the place of Sebastian Langkamp (also injured) in central defence. Hertha opted for a two-pronged attack consisting of Salomon Kalou and Vedad Ibisevic. Tolga Cigerci reverted to the bench. Cologne boss Peter Stöger saw no reason to change his team wi´hich beat rock bottom Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Rhein derby on matchday 5. Gladbach’s former Hertha coach Lucien Favre resigned this week.
After an initial 10 minutes period of waiting to see what the other team would do, both sides began to create some goal mouth action. Cologne blocked efforts by Darida and Stocker ab (13.). Moments later is was a case of Déjà Vu for Hertha fans as they were reminded of the 0-2 defeat in Wolfsburg last time out. Cologne’s failed to strike the ball properly but did appear to strike Hertha striker Kalou. Once again the referee’s whistle remained silent. Moments later stand-in Berlin stopper Jarstein produced two top drawer saves to deny Cologne duo Vogt (16.) and Lehmann (17.). Kalou then threatened at the other end again but only momentarily, as the Ivorian goal-getter failed to bring the ball on target while under intense pressure (23.). Hertha remained on top and kept up the pressure, winning two corners in quick succession. The first saw Cologne keeper Horn tip over an Ibisevic header (39.), before Niklas Stark, headed agonisingly wide of the post (40.). Two minutes later Cologne’s Anthony Modeste sent a header wide of goal (42.). Just as everyone was preparing for the opening half to end goalless, Hertha struck! Marvin Plattenhardt delived a superb cross onto the head of Ibisevic who gleefully nodded home in front of Hertha’s famous east stand to give the home side a deserved half-time lead (43.).
Hertha began the second half the brighter of the two sides, with Kalou sending a fierce effort fizzing past the far post (53.). Then Valentin Stocker shot wide of target (56.). At the other end Cologne remained dangerous on the break. A last-ditch effort by Per Skjelbred was needed to prevent a dangerous square ball from reaching its target (60.). Three minutes later summer signing Mitchell Weiser headed the ball off his own goal line as Cologne substitute Gerhardt looked certain to equalise (63.). Dárdai’s men remained calm during that period of Cologne pressure, relieving the pressure well whenever possible. Horn was called into action again to tip a Dardia shot from the edge of the box over his crossbar (73.). The Berliners dropped down a gear for the final quarter of an hour in order to protect their slender lead and Cologne failed to create any further scoring chances. Instead excellent approach work involving Alexander Baumjohann set up a simple tap in for Ibisevic to make it 2-0 to Hertha four minutes into injury time.
Hertha BSC were well worth their second home win of the season. They took the initiative in what was an entertaining game and created plenty of scoring chances. The-forced replacements in Dardai’s starting line-up didn’t affect their game, as Rune Jarstein and Niklas Stark both played well. Man of the match Vedad Ibisevic shone by scoring a brace of goals in his first start for his new club. So it was a great night in the nation’s capital. Matchday 7 sees Hertha on their travels. Eintracht Frankfurt away from home next Sunday (27.09.15, 3.30 PM).
(rd,mf,jr/City-Press)
Hertha began the second half the brighter of the two sides, with Kalou sending a fierce effort fizzing past the far post (53.). Then Valentin Stocker shot wide of target (56.). At the other end Cologne remained dangerous on the break. A last-ditch effort by Per Skjelbred was needed to prevent a dangerous square ball from reaching its target (60.). Three minutes later summer signing Mitchell Weiser headed the ball off his own goal line as Cologne substitute Gerhardt looked certain to equalise (63.). Dárdai’s men remained calm during that period of Cologne pressure, relieving the pressure well whenever possible. Horn was called into action again to tip a Dardia shot from the edge of the box over his crossbar (73.). The Berliners dropped down a gear for the final quarter of an hour in order to protect their slender lead and Cologne failed to create any further scoring chances. Instead excellent approach work involving Alexander Baumjohann set up a simple tap in for Ibisevic to make it 2-0 to Hertha four minutes into injury time.
Hertha BSC were well worth their second home win of the season. They took the initiative in what was an entertaining game and created plenty of scoring chances. The-forced replacements in Dardai’s starting line-up didn’t affect their game, as Rune Jarstein and Niklas Stark both played well. Man of the match Vedad Ibisevic shone by scoring a brace of goals in his first start for his new club. So it was a great night in the nation’s capital. Matchday 7 sees Hertha on their travels. Eintracht Frankfurt away from home next Sunday (27.09.15, 3.30 PM).
(rd,mf,jr/City-Press)