Teams | December 3, 2016 at 11:48 PM
Lucky or what!
Lucky or what!
Hertha BSC wom 3-2 at VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday afternoon (03.12.16).
Wolfsburg - Hertha BSC emerged victorious on Bundesliga matchday 13. On Saturday afternoon the capital city side left it late to beat Niedersachesen-based hosts VfL Wolfsburg 3-2 in front of 25,317 inside the Volkswagen Arena. Plattenhardt, Esswein and Kalou (pen) scored for the visitors, while Mayoral and Seguin were on target for the home side.
Berlin coach Pál Dárdai made only one change to the team which beat Mainz 2-1 at home on matchday 12. Suspended captain Vedad Ibisevic being replaced by Julian Schieber. Dárdai’s Wolves counterpart Valérien Ismäel made three changes, opting to swap Luiz Gustavo, Draxler and Didavi with Knoche, Caligiuri and Mayoral.
Berlin coach Pál Dárdai made only one change to the team which beat Mainz 2-1 at home on matchday 12. Suspended captain Vedad Ibisevic being replaced by Julian Schieber. Dárdai’s Wolves counterpart Valérien Ismäel made three changes, opting to swap Luiz Gustavo, Draxler and Didavi with Knoche, Caligiuri and Mayoral.
Both teams began brightly with the visitors missing early half chances through Julian Schieber (4.) and Valentin Stocker (5.). Wolfsburg’s former Swiss international keeper Benaglio was on his guard both times to avert the danger. The deadlock was broken on 12 minutes after Gerhardt made a great run down the left from where he crossed inside to Caligiuri, whose header caught was superbly stopped by Hertha keeper Jarstein only for Mayoral to mop up from point blank range. Hertha struck back soon afterwards with Marvin Plattenhardt scoring from a wonderful direct free kick, much to the delight of the 2,500 Hertha fans present (16.) Only two minutes later the Wolves edged ahead again. This time a long ball from Gerhardt to Seguin saw the latter beat Jarstein with a crisp effort at his near post (18.). The action continued until the 25th minute when the game finally calmed down somewhat and chances became rarer, although Schieber and Haraguchi both missed chances late in the opening half. The Wolves took a slender 2-1 win into the break with them.
The first chance of the second half fell to Berlin striker Kalou who back headed a Plattenhardt free kick narrowly wide of target (50.). Hertha tried to take the initiative but always remained wary of the home side who were ever dangerous on the break. On 55 minutes Jarstein was called into action again to thwart one such move on 55 minutes as Gomez threatened. The visitors upped the pressure and began to pin Wolfsburg inside their own area around halfway through the second half rewarding themselves for that pressure by equalising through substitute Alexander Esswein who beat Benaglio with a fine low shot from over 20 metres out (69.). Plattenhardt could have put the game to bed on 86 minutes, following superb approach work involving Esswein and Vladimir Darida, only to aim his effort narrowly wide of target. Moments late the Wolves shot themselves in the foot as Seguin was sent off for a cynical foul on Kalou. Esswein tested Benaglio with the resulting free kick from distance. The key incident in the game came in the last minute as Caligiuri brought down Plattenhardt inside the home area. The resulting free kick was coolly dispatched by Kalou who sent Benaglio the wrong way to wrap up a late but deserved 3-2 win. What drama!
The victory was Hertha’s third in four game. The capital city side had come back from going behind for the second game in a row. Next up for Dardai and Co. is a matchday 14 home game to lowly Werder Bremen on Saturday evening (10.12.16, 6.30 PM).
(rd,kk/City-Press)
The first chance of the second half fell to Berlin striker Kalou who back headed a Plattenhardt free kick narrowly wide of target (50.). Hertha tried to take the initiative but always remained wary of the home side who were ever dangerous on the break. On 55 minutes Jarstein was called into action again to thwart one such move on 55 minutes as Gomez threatened. The visitors upped the pressure and began to pin Wolfsburg inside their own area around halfway through the second half rewarding themselves for that pressure by equalising through substitute Alexander Esswein who beat Benaglio with a fine low shot from over 20 metres out (69.). Plattenhardt could have put the game to bed on 86 minutes, following superb approach work involving Esswein and Vladimir Darida, only to aim his effort narrowly wide of target. Moments late the Wolves shot themselves in the foot as Seguin was sent off for a cynical foul on Kalou. Esswein tested Benaglio with the resulting free kick from distance. The key incident in the game came in the last minute as Caligiuri brought down Plattenhardt inside the home area. The resulting free kick was coolly dispatched by Kalou who sent Benaglio the wrong way to wrap up a late but deserved 3-2 win. What drama!
The victory was Hertha’s third in four game. The capital city side had come back from going behind for the second game in a row. Next up for Dardai and Co. is a matchday 14 home game to lowly Werder Bremen on Saturday evening (10.12.16, 6.30 PM).
(rd,kk/City-Press)