Teams | August 28, 2016 at 07:27 PM
Last second victory for Hertha!
Last second victory for Hertha!
A last gasp goal by substitute Schieber saw Hertha BSC beat SC Freiburg 2-1 on Bundesliga matchday 1.
Berlin - Hertha BSC secured a dramatic last second victory over SC Freiburg at the Olympic stadium on Sunday evening (28.08.2016) as the 2016/17 Bundesliga season began. The game played in sweltering conditions was goalless at the break. Darida put the home side ahead (62.) only for the visitors to equalise in injury time at the end of the game. Just as the majority of the 46,108-strong crowd were settling for a draw, up stepped substitute Julian Schieber to score the winning goal with the final kick of the game. What drama!
Berlin boss Pál Dárdai made two changes to his starting line-up which had progressed to the second round of the DFB Cup by winning at Regensburg by way of a penalty shoot out (5-3) earlier in the week. Hertha now face a mouth watering round 2 clash away to Hamburg cult club FC St.Pauli. Mitchell Weiser impressed in Regensburg and got the nod over regular starter Kalou. Former captain Lustenberger replaced Stocker in midfield. Alexander Esswein who joined the capital city club from FC Augsburg this summer was on the bench at first. Niklas Stark however watched the game from the stands due to a late red card at the end of last season. Visiting coach Christian Streich reverted to a back three which increased to four when Hertha had the ball. Up front he had former Hertha youth man Philipp hoping to put one over on his former club.
The game began cautiously, with the home side having more of the early ball and Freiburg looked solid in defence. Haraguchi tried his luck with a shot on the turn which flew past the far post. Five minutes later a shot from distance by Pekarik lacked accuracy (11.). Freiburg began to take part in the game midway through the first half but Niederlechner fired over the bar and home keeper Jarstein made a timely challenge to reach a through ball ahead of Harberer (23.). Match referee Benjamin Brand then ordered a drink break because of the hot conditions. Hertha continued to have more of the ball and Weiser got a shot away from the edge of the SC box (29.). Then Freiburg stopper Schwolow used both fists to punch a free kick clear of the danger zone (35.). Moments later captain Ibisevic missed two headers (35., 38.). Hertha then needed a crucial challenge by Pekarik to thwart the threat of Grifo (40.). The game was goalless at the break.
The home side threatened first as the second half began, mounting a useful counter attack involving Weiser and Haraguchi. Sadly Darida’s shot was blocked in the nick of time (54.). The Berliners continued to take the game to Freiburg and Schwolow needed both fists to take the sting out of a Haraguchi thunderbolt. Freiburg then deflected a Weiser cross onto their own crossbar (57.). Hertha were finally rewarded for their attacking efforts on 62 minutes, as Darida was played in by fine combination work by Haraguchi and Ibisevic before finishing well against his former club. The lead was well deserved at that time. Freiburg upped their attacking game as they went in search of an equaliser. Grifo fired agonisingly wide of target (69.). With the visitors opening up Hertha had more room to operate in. Weiser played a sweet ball in from the right, but Ibisevic failed to hit the target (70.). Seven minutes later Esswein replaced Weiser for his Hertha debut.
The fianl few minutes of normal time were slightly dull, but that all changed as the game moved into the five minutes of injury time added on after 90 minutes! Just 180 seconds into injury time Freiburg’s Höfler nodded the ball over Jarstein to equalise. Everyone was settling for a draw – but not Hertha! Schieber and Hegeler held the ball inside Freiburg’s box. The visitors made several attempts to clear their lines but could only look on in horror as Schieber somehow scrambled the ball over the line to give Hertha a dramatic last second win! The referee blew full time right away. What drama!
The Bundesliga now takes a back seat for international matches. After that Dardai and Co. Are on their travels again. Matchday 2 sees them take on FC Ingolstadt (who drew 1-1 in Hamburg on matchday 1). That game at the Audi Sportpark on Saturday September 10 kicks off at 3.30 PM.
(rd,war/City-Press)
The game began cautiously, with the home side having more of the early ball and Freiburg looked solid in defence. Haraguchi tried his luck with a shot on the turn which flew past the far post. Five minutes later a shot from distance by Pekarik lacked accuracy (11.). Freiburg began to take part in the game midway through the first half but Niederlechner fired over the bar and home keeper Jarstein made a timely challenge to reach a through ball ahead of Harberer (23.). Match referee Benjamin Brand then ordered a drink break because of the hot conditions. Hertha continued to have more of the ball and Weiser got a shot away from the edge of the SC box (29.). Then Freiburg stopper Schwolow used both fists to punch a free kick clear of the danger zone (35.). Moments later captain Ibisevic missed two headers (35., 38.). Hertha then needed a crucial challenge by Pekarik to thwart the threat of Grifo (40.). The game was goalless at the break.
The home side threatened first as the second half began, mounting a useful counter attack involving Weiser and Haraguchi. Sadly Darida’s shot was blocked in the nick of time (54.). The Berliners continued to take the game to Freiburg and Schwolow needed both fists to take the sting out of a Haraguchi thunderbolt. Freiburg then deflected a Weiser cross onto their own crossbar (57.). Hertha were finally rewarded for their attacking efforts on 62 minutes, as Darida was played in by fine combination work by Haraguchi and Ibisevic before finishing well against his former club. The lead was well deserved at that time. Freiburg upped their attacking game as they went in search of an equaliser. Grifo fired agonisingly wide of target (69.). With the visitors opening up Hertha had more room to operate in. Weiser played a sweet ball in from the right, but Ibisevic failed to hit the target (70.). Seven minutes later Esswein replaced Weiser for his Hertha debut.
The fianl few minutes of normal time were slightly dull, but that all changed as the game moved into the five minutes of injury time added on after 90 minutes! Just 180 seconds into injury time Freiburg’s Höfler nodded the ball over Jarstein to equalise. Everyone was settling for a draw – but not Hertha! Schieber and Hegeler held the ball inside Freiburg’s box. The visitors made several attempts to clear their lines but could only look on in horror as Schieber somehow scrambled the ball over the line to give Hertha a dramatic last second win! The referee blew full time right away. What drama!
The Bundesliga now takes a back seat for international matches. After that Dardai and Co. Are on their travels again. Matchday 2 sees them take on FC Ingolstadt (who drew 1-1 in Hamburg on matchday 1). That game at the Audi Sportpark on Saturday September 10 kicks off at 3.30 PM.
(rd,war/City-Press)