Teams | December 22, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Dream end to 2015
Dream end to 2015
Hertha BSC deservedly beat Mainz 2-0 at home in the final game of 2015.
Berlin - Hertha rounded off 2015 in Style, in front of 39,835 at the Olympic stadium On Sunday afternoon (20.12.15), beating Mainz 2-0 to end the opening half of the season in third place. The goals were scored by Vladimir Darida (34.) and Salomon Kalou (54.) respectively.
Hertha boss Pal Dardai only made one change to the team which won 2-0 in the DFB Cup in midweek. After serving a suspension in the cup, key defender Marvin Plattenhardt returned to the team with Johannes van den Bergh reverting to the bench. After their 0-0 against lowly Stuttgart, Mainz also made a single change, with Clemens replacing De Blasis on the right wing, hoping to provide for sole striker Muto.
Hertha boss Pal Dardai only made one change to the team which won 2-0 in the DFB Cup in midweek. After serving a suspension in the cup, key defender Marvin Plattenhardt returned to the team with Johannes van den Bergh reverting to the bench. After their 0-0 against lowly Stuttgart, Mainz also made a single change, with Clemens replacing De Blasis on the right wing, hoping to provide for sole striker Muto.
The home side dominated the opening exchanges getting forward in a controlled and focused manner, while Mainz sat back hoping to hit Hertha on the break. The Berliners looked particularly good going down the left wing using Plattenhardt and Salomon Kalou. The first chances of the game were missed by Genki Haraguchi (2.), Kalou (14.) and John Anthony Brooks (15.) respectively. Vedad Ibisevic went closest as he hit the side netting on 24 minutes. Ten minutes later the home side deservedly broke the deadlock as Vladimir Darida duped Bungert, before sending a fine low shot into the bottom left hand corner of the net. That setback woke up Mainz who tried to get forward, but could find no way through the well-organised Berlin back line. Hertha took a one-goal lead into the break with them.
The second half began like the first, with the home side totally dominating. They doubled their lead within ten minutes of the restart. Ibisevic fed Kalou with a wonderful no-look pass. The Ivorian rounded a defender before netting his ninth goal of the season (54.). Mainz threw everything forward but the home side kept things tight at the back and hitting the visitors on the break when they won the ball. The first and only time Mainz threatened was as Jairo had a shot deflected on 66 minutes. Ibisevic had Bernin pulses racing late on but the Hertha striker was denied by Mainz keeper Karius.
Hertha were rarely troubled as the cruised to a deserved 2-0 home win over Mainz in the final game of 2015. The capital city side end the first half of the season in third place in the Bundesliga table. As soon as Mainz began to threaten, the well organised Berlin defence was water tight. Pal Dardai’s men combined well at times and two superbly taken goals were the icing on the (Christmas) cake.
Hertha’s second half of the season starts on Saturday 23.01.16 (3.30 PM), as they entertain FC Augsburg at the Olympic stadium on Bundesliga matchday 18.
(rd,lb/City-Press)
The second half began like the first, with the home side totally dominating. They doubled their lead within ten minutes of the restart. Ibisevic fed Kalou with a wonderful no-look pass. The Ivorian rounded a defender before netting his ninth goal of the season (54.). Mainz threw everything forward but the home side kept things tight at the back and hitting the visitors on the break when they won the ball. The first and only time Mainz threatened was as Jairo had a shot deflected on 66 minutes. Ibisevic had Bernin pulses racing late on but the Hertha striker was denied by Mainz keeper Karius.
Hertha were rarely troubled as the cruised to a deserved 2-0 home win over Mainz in the final game of 2015. The capital city side end the first half of the season in third place in the Bundesliga table. As soon as Mainz began to threaten, the well organised Berlin defence was water tight. Pal Dardai’s men combined well at times and two superbly taken goals were the icing on the (Christmas) cake.
Hertha’s second half of the season starts on Saturday 23.01.16 (3.30 PM), as they entertain FC Augsburg at the Olympic stadium on Bundesliga matchday 18.
(rd,lb/City-Press)