Hertha BSC defeats SC Paderborn 2:0

Hertha restored their two point lead at the top of the division two table on Sunday afternoon by beating SC Paderborn 2-0 in a round 28 game, played in front of a massive crowd of 70.621 at the Olympiastadion Berlin. The visitors had never played in front of such a large crowd in their history and Hertha were in no mood for an upset. Pierre-Michel Lasogga scord to put the home side into the driving season on 39 minutes. Skipper Andre Mijatovic nodded Hertha two goals up almost with the halftime whistle.

Berlin boss Markus Babbel altered his starting line-up in three positions for the visit of Paderborn to the tradition-steeped Olympic stadium in the nation’s capital: Lell and Niemeyer reurned after suspension, at the expense of Janker and Lustenberger, while as expected, Kobiashvili replaced Ronny, who missed out with a knee injury, expected to keep him out of first team action for up to a fortnight. Babbel’s Paderborn counterpart Andre Schubert was forced to change the side which drew 2-2 against FSV Frankfurt before the break for international games: The suspended Congolese midfielder Guié-Mien was replaced by Columbian striker Mosquera. 

Hertha took the initiative from the off, without it must be said being able to turn that dominance into goalmouth action. On 12 minutes though, a cross by Ebert sailed past everyone and hit the outside of the left hand post. Luck for Paderborn keeper Masuch, who failed to read the cross and would have been nowhere near the ball had it gone in. Then on 20 minutes Nikita Rukavytsya played the ball into the Paderborn area, but young Berlin striker Lasogga missed the pass by a whisker.

The only time Paderborn “threatened” up to that moment in time, was as a long clearance by keeper Masuch flew well wide of the goal being guarded by Maikel Aerts (22.). Lasogga however was much more of a threat. He let fly with a fierce shot after being set up by Raffael. Masuch reacted well to clear the danger using his left foot (33.). Six minutes later though, the Paderborn stopper was powerless to prevent Hertha from breaking the deadlock. Lell tried his luck with a shot from distance, but slipped while shooting. Fortunately the ball landed directly at the feet of Lasogga, who scored his tenth goal of the season from around the penalty spot (39.). On the stroke of halftime Ebert crossed a corner to the far post, where Hertha captain Mijatovic rose the highest to nod his side into a two goal lead, which they kept until the first half ended (45.).

Hertha continued to take the game to Paderborn as the second half resumed. Ebert crossed into the area to where Lasogga looked like scoring with his head. The away keeper had other ideas thoug,h and did well to clear the danger with a timely punch of the ball (51.). Six minutes later Paderborn thought they had scored, but Brandy was rightly given offside. Brandy threatened again only four minutes later as he narrowly headed wide (57.).

Moments later at the other end Rukavytsya left Jukka Raitala looking like a statue as he breezed past him down the left wing, from where the Aussie played in Ramos. Who shot well wide from five metres outside the Paderborn area (60.). Masuch was in action again on 70 minutes, taking the sting out of another Lasogga effort (70.). At the other end Aerts was flying across goal as a fine shot by Krösche struck the outsode of a post with the Hertha keeper beaten (78.). Roman Hubnik could and should have put the game beyond the reach of the visitors eleven minutes from time, but the gritty Czech defender was denied by a top drawer Masuch save (79.). Hertha played out the remaining minutes to take well deserved maximum points from the game.

On Monday (11.04.2011) in a televised game, Hertha take on high-flying VfL Bochum in what could be one of the tightest and best games of the remainder of the season. The game against former Hertha coach Friedhelm Funkel kicks off at 20.15 CET.
Match details:
Hertha BSC: Aerts – Lell, Hubnik, Mijatovic (76. Neumann), Kobiashvili – Niemeyer – Ebert (90. Schulz), Raffael, Rukavytsya (59. Lustenberger) – Ramos, Lasogga
SC Paderborn: Masuch – Wemmer, Mohr (88. Palionis), Strohdiek, Raitala – Krösche, Alushi – Brandy (88. Jansen), Brückner, Heithölter – Mosquera (46. Wachsmuth)

Goals: 1:0 Lasogga (39.), 2:0 Mijatovic (45.)
Booked: Lasogga, Neumann – Heithölter, Brückner
Attendance: 70.621
Referree: Marc Seemann

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