Here we go, the first truly competitive match if the 2013/14 season. Hertha travel to visit VfR Neumünster in Schleswig Holstein with the kick off at 16:00 (CET). Neumünster, formed in 1910 and currently play in the Regionalaliga Nord (4th tier I believe). In theory Hertha should win easily but that means nothing. It is not over until the fat lady sings and then goes back stage and has a nice Kaffee und Kuchen!
The starting eleven that was announced was as follows:
Kraft - Ndjeng, Langkamp, Brooks, van den Bergh - Lustenberger, Kluge - Allagui, Baumjohann, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Kraft - Ndjeng, Langkamp, Brooks, van den Bergh - Lustenberger, Kluge - Allagui, Baumjohann, Ben-Hatira - Ramos
Disaster struck after just five minutes as a free kick by Harrer goes past the wall and Kraft, not taking it cleanly, spills the ball into the net leaving Hertha 1:0 down!
Eleven minutes later Hertha pull one back as Sami Allagui draws the keeper totally out if position and crosses it over to Änis Ben-Hatira for a tap in - all square 1:1.
In the 30th minute the Sami-Änis combo struck again as Änis Ben-Hatira stormed down the left following a pass from Sami to blast a second into the back if the net 1:2 and Hertha in the lead. Hertha took that lead into half time after the shakiest start imaginable.
The second half didn't go so well either in that an attempted clearance from Marcel Ndjeng went to Christopher Kramer giving him a free header to equalise in the 59th minute. That sinking feeling oh so familiar from two seasons ago was starting to creep back. Kramer picked up his second yellow card after a foul on Marcel Ndjeng and Neumünster were down to 10 men. It ended at 2:2 after the 90 minutes and so extra time it was.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your viewpoint) I had to go to work at this point so I wasn't able to see the extra time although I intend to look at the highlights later. Hertha were awarded a penalty and Sami Allagui slotted it in the 120th minute would you believe. The penalty was awarded after Änis Ben-Hatira was barged over in the box. The keeper got a hand to the penalty from Sami but the strike was strong and in itt went. Today was the Sami and Änis party - they were involved in all three Hertha goals.
Neumunster must have been gutted but that is the way the game goes sometimes - it has happened to Hertha often enough. This time we had Lady Luck on our side - just as well, we needed her! I did wonder if the team hadn't settled yet after the news of Lusti being given the captains armband. If so they have less than a week to sort out any teething problems. Next season every single point will count . .
Eleven minutes later Hertha pull one back as Sami Allagui draws the keeper totally out if position and crosses it over to Änis Ben-Hatira for a tap in - all square 1:1.
In the 30th minute the Sami-Änis combo struck again as Änis Ben-Hatira stormed down the left following a pass from Sami to blast a second into the back if the net 1:2 and Hertha in the lead. Hertha took that lead into half time after the shakiest start imaginable.
The second half didn't go so well either in that an attempted clearance from Marcel Ndjeng went to Christopher Kramer giving him a free header to equalise in the 59th minute. That sinking feeling oh so familiar from two seasons ago was starting to creep back. Kramer picked up his second yellow card after a foul on Marcel Ndjeng and Neumünster were down to 10 men. It ended at 2:2 after the 90 minutes and so extra time it was.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your viewpoint) I had to go to work at this point so I wasn't able to see the extra time although I intend to look at the highlights later. Hertha were awarded a penalty and Sami Allagui slotted it in the 120th minute would you believe. The penalty was awarded after Änis Ben-Hatira was barged over in the box. The keeper got a hand to the penalty from Sami but the strike was strong and in itt went. Today was the Sami and Änis party - they were involved in all three Hertha goals.
Neumunster must have been gutted but that is the way the game goes sometimes - it has happened to Hertha often enough. This time we had Lady Luck on our side - just as well, we needed her! I did wonder if the team hadn't settled yet after the news of Lusti being given the captains armband. If so they have less than a week to sort out any teething problems. Next season every single point will count . .
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