Bundesliga
Europa League
06.11.2009 18:16:03
Despite two goals from Papadopulos, Hertha Berlin got their European campaign back on track with a valuable three points
Hamburg and Hertha close in on knock-outs
On matchday four of the Europa League, both Hamburg and Berlin came one step closer to the knock out stages.
Hamburg secured a point from their 0-0 home clash with Celtic. In a thrilling match at the Abe Lenstra stadium a last minute winner saw Hertha Berlin earn their first three points of the competition in their 2-3 victory over Dutch side Heerenveen.
Hamburg SV 0-0 Celtic Glasgow
In a free flowing first half, the visitors had the better of the early chances. After four minutes Robson found himself free at the edge of the box with Rost off his line only to fire his shot over the bar. Soon after it was Robson again who had just the keeper to beat, but his shot was matched by an impressive save by Rost.
Under pressure the home side began to respond. Ze Roberto's free kick on 18 minutes flew just a meter wide of Zaluska's left post and a minute later Jansen forced a good parry from the Polish goalkeeper. The chances kept coming for Bruno Labbadia's side as Celtic struggled to maintain their early threat. On 35 minutes there were claims for a penalty from Hamburg after Ze Roberto felt he had been impeded at the edge of the box. Referee Carballo rightly waved play on.
After the restart the home side almost instantly took the lead. A dangerous free kick from Aogo found the head of Mathijsen and his effort hit the bar as the Scottish side had an early let off. In the 72nd minute Rozehnal was unlucky not to finally find the opening goal. The defender rose highest following Ze Roberto's corner and the header forced a spectacular save from Zaluska.
The game lost momentum in the final quarter of an hour with both sides seemingly happy to accept a point. With their positions in the competition fairly secure, the draw doesn't alter group C too much. Hamburg stay in second on seven points, while Celtic's competition is as good as over with the Scottish side lying in last place.
Hamburg: Rost - Rincon, Rozehnal, Mathijsen, Aogo - Ze Roberto, Jarolim - Elia, Jansen - Pitroipa, Berg
Celtic: Zaluska - Hinkel, G. Caldwell, Loovens, Fox - Robson, Crosas, N'Guemo, McGeady - Samaras, McDonald
SC Heerenveen 2-3 Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha got off to the worst possible start conceding after just three minutes. Papadopulos was allowed a free shot from the home side's first corner with the Berlin defence in all sorts of trouble. The goal was a wake up call for the visitors who came into this game at the bottom of group D. Hetha looked increasingly more dangerous in the early stages of the first half but struggled to create any meaningful chances as the hosts became more subdued. Friedhelm Funkel's side were rewarded just after the 20 minute mark after Domovchiyski finished from five meters out following some good build up by Wichniarek.
Unfortunately the situation got worse for Hertha on 36 minutes as Papadopulos netted again with another close range header, leaving the struggling Bundesliga side asking serious questions of their defence.
Early Berlin pressure after the restart soon paid off as Valeri Domovchiyski doubled his tally for the evening on 52 minutes. Wichniarek's deflected shot found the Bulgarian, who duly obliged by finding the back of the net, giving his side some home of staying in the competition.
Funkel's side were just centimetres away from taking the lead in the 61st minute after Domovchiyski's long ball caused problems in the Heerenveen defence and eventually hitting the woodwork. The Bundesliga's bottom side looked the more threatening in the second half and continued to control possession but struggled to alter the score line.
Domovchiyski almost secured his hat-trick and the victory for Hertha a quarter of an hour from time after Vandenbussche fumbled the ball a looping cross. However, it was not until added time that the visitors finally confirmed their first three points of this season's competition. Again Domovchiyski was involved as his pass into the box met with the run of Wichniarek, who netted with just two minutes to go.
Hertha's run without a win in the Europa League comes to end as Funkel's side earn a well deserved three points. Hertha move into third place in group D on four points, the same as Heerenveen stay in second ahead only on goal difference.
Heerenveen: Vandenbussche - Koning, Breuer, Bak Nielsen, Popov - Svec, Losada, V. Elm - Roy Beerens, Assaidi - Papadopulos
Hertha: Drobny - Stein, A. Friedrich, von Bergen, Pejcinovic - Nicu, Lustenberger, Cicero - Domovchiyski, Bigalke - Wichniarek
Goals: Papadopulos 1-0 (3'), Domovchiyski 1-1 (21'), Papadolulos 2-1 (36'), Domovchiyski (52'), Wichniarek 2-3 (90+1')
Vince Hughes
Hamburg SV 0-0 Celtic Glasgow
In a free flowing first half, the visitors had the better of the early chances. After four minutes Robson found himself free at the edge of the box with Rost off his line only to fire his shot over the bar. Soon after it was Robson again who had just the keeper to beat, but his shot was matched by an impressive save by Rost.
Under pressure the home side began to respond. Ze Roberto's free kick on 18 minutes flew just a meter wide of Zaluska's left post and a minute later Jansen forced a good parry from the Polish goalkeeper. The chances kept coming for Bruno Labbadia's side as Celtic struggled to maintain their early threat. On 35 minutes there were claims for a penalty from Hamburg after Ze Roberto felt he had been impeded at the edge of the box. Referee Carballo rightly waved play on.
After the restart the home side almost instantly took the lead. A dangerous free kick from Aogo found the head of Mathijsen and his effort hit the bar as the Scottish side had an early let off. In the 72nd minute Rozehnal was unlucky not to finally find the opening goal. The defender rose highest following Ze Roberto's corner and the header forced a spectacular save from Zaluska.
The game lost momentum in the final quarter of an hour with both sides seemingly happy to accept a point. With their positions in the competition fairly secure, the draw doesn't alter group C too much. Hamburg stay in second on seven points, while Celtic's competition is as good as over with the Scottish side lying in last place.
Hamburg: Rost - Rincon, Rozehnal, Mathijsen, Aogo - Ze Roberto, Jarolim - Elia, Jansen - Pitroipa, Berg
Celtic: Zaluska - Hinkel, G. Caldwell, Loovens, Fox - Robson, Crosas, N'Guemo, McGeady - Samaras, McDonald
SC Heerenveen 2-3 Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha got off to the worst possible start conceding after just three minutes. Papadopulos was allowed a free shot from the home side's first corner with the Berlin defence in all sorts of trouble. The goal was a wake up call for the visitors who came into this game at the bottom of group D. Hetha looked increasingly more dangerous in the early stages of the first half but struggled to create any meaningful chances as the hosts became more subdued. Friedhelm Funkel's side were rewarded just after the 20 minute mark after Domovchiyski finished from five meters out following some good build up by Wichniarek.
Unfortunately the situation got worse for Hertha on 36 minutes as Papadopulos netted again with another close range header, leaving the struggling Bundesliga side asking serious questions of their defence.
Early Berlin pressure after the restart soon paid off as Valeri Domovchiyski doubled his tally for the evening on 52 minutes. Wichniarek's deflected shot found the Bulgarian, who duly obliged by finding the back of the net, giving his side some home of staying in the competition.
Funkel's side were just centimetres away from taking the lead in the 61st minute after Domovchiyski's long ball caused problems in the Heerenveen defence and eventually hitting the woodwork. The Bundesliga's bottom side looked the more threatening in the second half and continued to control possession but struggled to alter the score line.
Domovchiyski almost secured his hat-trick and the victory for Hertha a quarter of an hour from time after Vandenbussche fumbled the ball a looping cross. However, it was not until added time that the visitors finally confirmed their first three points of this season's competition. Again Domovchiyski was involved as his pass into the box met with the run of Wichniarek, who netted with just two minutes to go.
Hertha's run without a win in the Europa League comes to end as Funkel's side earn a well deserved three points. Hertha move into third place in group D on four points, the same as Heerenveen stay in second ahead only on goal difference.
Heerenveen: Vandenbussche - Koning, Breuer, Bak Nielsen, Popov - Svec, Losada, V. Elm - Roy Beerens, Assaidi - Papadopulos
Hertha: Drobny - Stein, A. Friedrich, von Bergen, Pejcinovic - Nicu, Lustenberger, Cicero - Domovchiyski, Bigalke - Wichniarek
Goals: Papadopulos 1-0 (3'), Domovchiyski 1-1 (21'), Papadolulos 2-1 (36'), Domovchiyski (52'), Wichniarek 2-3 (90+1')
Vince Hughes
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