18.04.2010
News-Archive

Draw in Frankfurt not enough for Hertha

Hertha BSC slipped ever closer towards the 2. Bundesliga after twice letting their lead slip in a 2-2 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday evening.

Ümit Korkmaz had cancelled out Gojko Kacar's early opener for the visitors, though when Pirmin Schwegler blazed over from the spot and Raffael put Hertha back in front within the space of 33 crazy first half seconds, it seemed the capital club were on their way to an important three points. However, Marco Russ' second half equaliser put paid any aspirations of an away victory, though the hosts will rue their missed chance to close on the top six.

Kacar heads Hertha in front

The game began in a fairly open manner at the Commerzbank Area with Hertha arguably the more eager to get forward. Still, it was Frankfurt's Patrick Ochs who had the game's first chance when his cheeky chip from the right almost caught out Jaroslav Drobny. Soon afterwards, Caio almost stole in to nod over the big Czech after bustling through to get on the end of this own lofted through ball.

Undeterred, it was Hertha who took the lead on 17 minutes when Raffael shook off Maik Franz down the left before crossing to the far post. Cicero unselfishly headed back across goal for the lurking Kacar to head past the helpless Oka Nikolov and put the visitors in front.

Astonishing turnaround

Frankfurt immediately went in search of an equaliser and soon tested Drobny again, Halil Altintop forcing a top save from the Hertha shot-stopper at his near post just before the half hour mark. Within eight minutes the hosts were indeed level, Ochs crossing for Ümit Korkmaz, who controlled superbly on the edge of the box before firing a past Drobny to level the scores.

Then came the moment that the Hertha fans were hoping would reflect the rest of their season. After Fabian Lustenberger had tripped Caio in the box just as he was about to pull the trigger, Pirmin Schwegler blasted the resulting penalty over the bar. 33 seconds later and the ball was in the net at the other end. Theofanis Gekas' clever lob into the box found the onrushing Adrian Ramos, whose strike was parried by Nikolov into the path of the arriving Raffael, and the Brazilian trickster required no second invitation to roll into the empty net.

Russ equalises again

The celebrations only lasted 18 minutes into the second half, however, as Frankfurt grabbed a second equaliser through Marco Russ. The reliable defender rose highest to meet Benjamin Köhler's free kick from the right, glancing the ball over Drobny and into the far corner for his fourth of the season.

Hertha were arguably the more likely to find a winner as the match entered its final stages but the final ball was lacking on too many occasions. Nikolov had to react quickly to beat Gekas to a smart through-ball, and the Greek striker almost broke free again but for Raffael's slightly overhit threaded pass. Caio saw a long-range effort beaten away by Drobny at the other end, but Hertha's desperation was palpable as Raffael spurned another glorious opportunity, Nikolov denying his low right-foot strike with two minutes left.

That result means Friedhelm Funkel's charges remain five points adrift of safety and seemingly in need of a miracle if they are to avoid relegation to the 2. Bundesliga in three weeks' time. Frankfurt themselves are five points off the top six and with just three games to go, face an uphill struggle to qualify for the Europa League.

Frankfurt: Nikolov - Franz (Fenin 63'), Russ, Chris, Köhler - Meier, Schwegler - P. Ochs, Caio (Liberopoulos 90+1'), Korkmaz (M. Heller 78') - Halil Altintop

Hertha: Drobny - Piszczek, A. Friedrich, von Bergen, Kobiashvili - Lustenberger - Kacar (Domovchiyski 77'), Cicero - Raffael - Ramos, Gekas (Wichniarek 86')

Goals: 1-0 Kacar (17'), 1-1 Korkmaz (37'), 1-2 Raffael (42'), 2-2 Russ (63')

Attendance: 45.000 (Commerzbank Arena)

Andy James