Teams | May 14, 2016 at 08:33 PM
Hertha reach Europe!
Hertha reach Europe!
Hertha drew 0-0 at Mainz in the final game of the season.
Mainz - On Saturday afternoon (14.05.16), Hertha BSC drew 0-0 with Mainz in front of 33,600 at the Coface Arena in the final game of the season. The capital city side ended the season in 7th place which sees them reach the qualification places for the Europa League.
Pál Dárdai made four changes to the team which lost 1-2 to Darmstadt at home last time out. Marvin Plattenhardt returned from suspension to replace Maximilian Mittelstädt at left back, Peter Pekarik reverting to right back. Mitchell Weiser took his place on the right wing again. Niklas Stark took over in midfield after Per Skjelbred was ruled out with a virus infection and Sebastian Langkamp returned in central defence. Salomon Kalou played up front in place of Vedad Ibisevic who was suspended, while Valentin Stocker operated on the left wing in place of the Ivorian striker. Home coach Martin Schmidt stuck with the starting eleven which beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on matchday 33.
Pál Dárdai made four changes to the team which lost 1-2 to Darmstadt at home last time out. Marvin Plattenhardt returned from suspension to replace Maximilian Mittelstädt at left back, Peter Pekarik reverting to right back. Mitchell Weiser took his place on the right wing again. Niklas Stark took over in midfield after Per Skjelbred was ruled out with a virus infection and Sebastian Langkamp returned in central defence. Salomon Kalou played up front in place of Vedad Ibisevic who was suspended, while Valentin Stocker operated on the left wing in place of the Ivorian striker. Home coach Martin Schmidt stuck with the starting eleven which beat VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on matchday 33.
The opening chance of the game fell to the home side as Onisiwo cut into the Berlin box from the left, from where he tested keeper Rune Almenning Jarstein who was up to the task, punching his effort out of the danger zone (3.). Hertha threatened themselves three minutes later, but a decent looking run into the box by Stocker was ended as the offside flag was raised. A cross from the left then found home favourite Cordoba, who lost out in a one on one situation with Berlin stopper Jarstein (9.). They shall not pass! It was end to end stuff early on and Hertha had their next chance as Kalou headed a Mitchell Weiser free kick into the path of Vladimir Darida, who could only look on in horror as Mainz defender Bussmann scraped his effort off the goal line (17.) Things calmed down for a while after that Hertha had more of the ball but were always wary of the danger posed by the home side on the break. Kalou then latched on to a poor back pass to home keeper Karius. But his tame effort was cleared before it could cross the line (31.). Kalou was also involved in Hertha’s best chance of the opening half as he was played into the box to find himself one on one with Karius. This time Hertha’s top scorer (14 goals) fired the ball narrowly wide of the post. An intense first half ended goalless.
Both sides made a cautious start to the second half and Hertha had the first chance. But a shot from a central position by Niklas Stark flew well over the bar (55.). Moments later Stocker broke into the home box only to be stopped by the referee’s whistle after he had committed a foul beforehand. On 59 minutes a free kick by Clemens from the left was narrowly missed by the onrushing Cordoba. At the other end a pinpoint cross by Weiser found Stocker, who met his master in Karius (63.). Hertha stuck to their task and Darida tested Karius after being nicely played in by a header (75.). Hertha simply couldn’t score, luckily neither could Mainz. On 87 minutes Hertha’s Stark was sent off for a second booking. But the capital city side still created chances but could find no way past Mainz man of the match Karius. The game ended in a goalless draw, about the right result on the balance of play.
Hertha produced a convincing and battling display in their final game of the season which saw them finish in a superb seventh place in the Bundesliga table. Dardai and Co, can now look forward to entering Europa League qualification at the third round stage.
(rd,kk/City-Press)
Both sides made a cautious start to the second half and Hertha had the first chance. But a shot from a central position by Niklas Stark flew well over the bar (55.). Moments later Stocker broke into the home box only to be stopped by the referee’s whistle after he had committed a foul beforehand. On 59 minutes a free kick by Clemens from the left was narrowly missed by the onrushing Cordoba. At the other end a pinpoint cross by Weiser found Stocker, who met his master in Karius (63.). Hertha stuck to their task and Darida tested Karius after being nicely played in by a header (75.). Hertha simply couldn’t score, luckily neither could Mainz. On 87 minutes Hertha’s Stark was sent off for a second booking. But the capital city side still created chances but could find no way past Mainz man of the match Karius. The game ended in a goalless draw, about the right result on the balance of play.
Hertha produced a convincing and battling display in their final game of the season which saw them finish in a superb seventh place in the Bundesliga table. Dardai and Co, can now look forward to entering Europa League qualification at the third round stage.
(rd,kk/City-Press)