VfB v. Hertha Berlin | Match Review + Photos + Stats

Ok, first off, I want to say the following: FUCK YOU TO EVERYONE AT 1000goals.com! You are nothing more than thieves! (Let me explain if you didn't get it.) I was on Facebook today, updating the blog fan page on there, which ironically that my ex-bf Adambader (Yes, I hooked up with Adam.) got one as well. Anyway, I was on there, and my friend Stephan from Germany posted a link to 1000goals.com. I saw the picture that he posted with the link, and I was like..."That looks familiar." So, I opened my DeviantArt page to see if it was the one I had made...and it was!! I mean, I have a Creative Commons License on all of my work which states that you can't repost my work and you can't edit it to claim it as your own! WHAT THE FUCKING HELL!?! Anyway, 1000goals, you have just lost a visitor and you have lost a number of others.

Anyway, to the review!!

Despite a number of wonderful chances today, VfB would have to settle with a 1-1 draw against Hertha Berlin.

VfB coach Markus Babbel made three changes to his starting eleven, compared to the group that began the recent game against Gladbach, with Cacau replacing Elson and Ciprian Marica getting the nod ahead of Pavel Pogrebnyak up front, as well as Christian Träsch coming into the side ahead of Stefano Celozzi. The home side made a bright and determined start, proving threatening throughout the first half of the game. But, despite Thomas Hitzlsperger, Cacau and even Sebastian Rudy having opportunities to break the deadlock, there was to be no scoring in the first 45 minute and the sides went into the break with the score-line at 0-0.

The second half of the game began with a shock for the home team. With just four minutes played, Maximilian Nicu played into the path of substitute Adrian Ramos, who managed to beat the VfB off-side trap, danced past Jens Lehmann and slot the ball into the empty net to give Hertha a 1-0 lead. As a result of bottom of the table Berlin going in front, the VfB side began to seize under pressure from the increasingly dissatisfied fans. Zdravko Kuzmanovic twice delivered dangerous free-kicks into the Berlin penalty area but initially Matthieu Delpierre failed to make contact and at the second attempt, Rudy was unable to make sufficient contact in order to beat Drobny in the Hertha goal. Kuzmanovic decided to try his luck from distance on the hour mark but he was also to be foiled by Drobny's alertness. Just five minute later, the Czech goalkeeper was in action again, this time denying Cacau and clearing for a corner, which subsequently brought no joy.

VfB continued to press in search of an equalizer and, in the 83^rd minute, Christian Träsch drove a shot in from 18 meters out, which was initially, and unwittingly, blocked by substitute Julian Schieber, but the young striker managed to poke the ball back to Kuzmanovic, who drove his shot low into the bottom left corner - 1-1. Soon after, VfB were reduced to ten men when the Serbian goal-scorer received a second caution, but still the home side looked the more likely to snatch the points against a Hertha side that never really looked to play attacking football throughout and, in the end, VfB were again left with just a share of the spoils at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

"We made a good start, put the visitors under pressure early on and created a number of openings. That all looked very different in the second half! We didn't begin well and quickly conceded the 0-1. After going behind, we needed a long time to find our way back into the game. Once we then equalized the whole team took a lift again and we managed to create further very good chances. We need to continue working on our finishing but the team is intact."

Captain Thomas Hitzlsperger said:

"It's difficult to find an explanation. Luckily we managed to get an equalizer. We allowed them to force their style of play upon us in the second half of the game."

Arthur Boka added:

"The first half was very good over long periods. We tried a lot of different things but once again couldn't find the net. We bounced back well from the goal we conceded in the second half. Maybe we are lacking confidence in our own strength at the moment. We make too many mistakes and don't score enough goals. We need to continue working now and get back to winning ways."

Kuzmanovic said:

"We really wanted to win this one! If they had have scored a second though the game would have been all over for us. These are the teams you really have to beat! My first foul was a tactical one - you can give a yellow card for that. For the second foul I barely touched him and he fell theatrically. We need to find a quick solution to our goal-scoring problem. We should have taken the lead in the first half. We are a strong team and shouldn't have to be afraid of anyone."

Finally, Sebastian Rudy said:

"Actually, we started really well and in the first 30 minutes, played really well. After that, we waned somewhat, but in the second half, and then conceding a goal like this. Nevertheless, I believe that the late goal and 1:1 was deserved, although in the end it is simply not enough for us." 

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