Teams | November 5, 2016 at 12:31 AM
Kalou hat trick beats ten-man Gladbach
Kalou hat trick beats ten-man Gladbach
Hertha BSC beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 in front of 51,934 at the Olympic stadium in Berlin on Friday night.
Berlin - In the opening game of Bundesliga matchday 10, Salomon Kalou scored all three goals (18., 33., 84.) in a 3-0 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Friday night (04.11.16). The visitors were down to ten men after 39 minutes after Kramer was sent off for a second booking. They built up some momentum for a short time after the break but the home defence was in miserly mood and kept things tight at the back ensuring Hertha record their fifth home win of the season.
As announced earlier this week Hertha coach Pál Dárdai rang the changes following the 0-1 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim last time out. The Hungarian put Maximilian Mittelstädt at left back opposite Peter Pekarik. Kalou played just off the front line while Allan Souza and Alexander Esswein were on the bench at first. After drawing 1-1 with Scottish giants Celtic in midweek in the Champions League, Borussia boss Andre Schubert decided to make four changes to the team from that night. Hofmann, Jantschke, Herrmann and former Hertha striker Raffael replaced Korb, Johnson, Hazard and Hahn.
As announced earlier this week Hertha coach Pál Dárdai rang the changes following the 0-1 defeat at TSG Hoffenheim last time out. The Hungarian put Maximilian Mittelstädt at left back opposite Peter Pekarik. Kalou played just off the front line while Allan Souza and Alexander Esswein were on the bench at first. After drawing 1-1 with Scottish giants Celtic in midweek in the Champions League, Borussia boss Andre Schubert decided to make four changes to the team from that night. Hofmann, Jantschke, Herrmann and former Hertha striker Raffael replaced Korb, Johnson, Hazard and Hahn.
Both sides began brightly with the visitors looking the more useful early up front early on. They created chances for Strobl (11, header), Raffael from distance (12.) and Stindl (17.) – all of which missed the target. Kalou though went one better by putting the home side ahead from their first attack of the game as the Ivorian goal-getter nodded home a pinpoint cross from Mitchell Weiser (18.). That breakthrough lifted the team and they began to get on top. Man-mountain defender John Anthony Brooks got his head to a free kick by köpfte Weiser, only to be denied by Gladbach keeper Sommer (24.). Kalou was in the spotlight again on 33 minutes as he pounced on a Gladbach mistake to put the home side 2-0 in front. Gladbach found no way through Hertha’s tight defensive line and became frustrated which resulted in fouls. Gladbach’s Kramer was sent off for just such an offence, picking up a second booking following a foullon Fabian Lustenberger (39.). Just beforehand the visitors lost key man Hermann who had to go off with an ankle injury.
The second half began much more reserved than the first had. Hertha remained tight at the back and strong in the tackle. The team combined nicely at times too. Gladbach though created the first chance of the new half as Stindl sent a shot wide of target (53.). Five minutes later at the other end Sommer held onto a header from Ibisevic. The game began to pick up as Gladbach desperately tried to pull a goal back. It took a classy and timely intervention by Stark to deny Johnson what looked a certain goal (66.). The Gladbach man then headed over the bar (69.). Hertha keeper Rune Almenning Jarstein continued his fine form by denying Vestergaard (76.) and Stindl (78.) with some top drawer goalkeeping. Hertha waited for a chance to counter attack the visitors and two of them created chances for Haraguchi (67.) and Mittelstädt (77.), none of which were taken. Kalou completed a superb hat trick by scoring Hertha’s third and final goal of the game on 84 minutes to make the final score 3-0 to the capital city side. Perfect!
The 3-0 win over Borussia was Hertha’s fifth consecutive home win of the season and with 20 points to their name move up to third place in the Bundesliga table, at least overnight! The international break means that Hertha’s next game is away to FC Augsburg on Saturday (19.11.16, 3.30 PM).
(lb,war/City-Press)
The second half began much more reserved than the first had. Hertha remained tight at the back and strong in the tackle. The team combined nicely at times too. Gladbach though created the first chance of the new half as Stindl sent a shot wide of target (53.). Five minutes later at the other end Sommer held onto a header from Ibisevic. The game began to pick up as Gladbach desperately tried to pull a goal back. It took a classy and timely intervention by Stark to deny Johnson what looked a certain goal (66.). The Gladbach man then headed over the bar (69.). Hertha keeper Rune Almenning Jarstein continued his fine form by denying Vestergaard (76.) and Stindl (78.) with some top drawer goalkeeping. Hertha waited for a chance to counter attack the visitors and two of them created chances for Haraguchi (67.) and Mittelstädt (77.), none of which were taken. Kalou completed a superb hat trick by scoring Hertha’s third and final goal of the game on 84 minutes to make the final score 3-0 to the capital city side. Perfect!
The 3-0 win over Borussia was Hertha’s fifth consecutive home win of the season and with 20 points to their name move up to third place in the Bundesliga table, at least overnight! The international break means that Hertha’s next game is away to FC Augsburg on Saturday (19.11.16, 3.30 PM).
(lb,war/City-Press)