3:1 home win over Bielefeld

Two goals from Rob Friend (5.+79.) and one by Adrian Ramos (7.), saw Hertha cruise to a well deserved 3-1 home win over Arminia Bielefeld, who have yet to win in the league this season. Former Germany international Oliver Neuville scored an injury-time consolation goal but by then the capital city side was home and dry. Hertha maintained their 100% record on Sunday afternoon, beating Arminia Bielefeld 3-1 in a third round second division clash in front of another mammoth crowd of 47,726 at the Olympiastadion Berlin.

Hertha had the opening chance of the game just seconds after the start as Nikita Rukavytsya failed to get enough direction on a header, following a poínpoint cross by Kobiashvili. Hertha fans did not however hav to wait long for a chance to celebrate. In fact only five minutes. Raffael played a free kick in from the right to Friend inside the ssix yard box, from where the Canadian forward forced the ball over the line with his chest (5.). 1-0 to Hertha! Only two minutes later Valeri Domovchiyski created the next chance. Eilhoff failed to clear a Friend shot, and Ramos mopped up with a header from close range to make it 2-0 to Hertha. A perfect start.

Ramos missed a good chance on 12 minutes, he was denied by Eilhoff who left his line to clear in the nick of time. Then Hertha dropped down a gear, but remained dangerous on ocasions. Like the time when Rukavytsyas run was ended by an excellent stop by Eilhoff using his feet. Bielefeld never saw the light of day in the opening 45 minutes. The home side deservedly led 2-0 at the break.

Hertha remained on top after the break, creating more clearcut scoring opportunities. Ramos threatened Eilhoff’s goal after leaving several Arminians in his wake. The Bielefeld keeper did well though and a good chance was squandered. Then Friend was caught just offside(55.). Two minutes later missed an absolute sitter following a Raffael corner. Once again it was Eilhoff who kept his team in the game with a fine save. On 63 minutes Eilhoff was finally beaten, but Raffael’s curling effort fizzed agonisingly wide of the right hand upright.
Raffael was unlucky again on 74 minutes, as his goalbound shot from inside the area was deflected wide by a Bielefeld leg. Five minutes later though it was game over for the visitors. Friend completed his brace by again scoring from close range following a fine ball into the box by substitute Nico Schulz. Much-travelled veteran striker Oliver Neuvill scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute, but Hertha’s empfatic win was never in doubt.

After three straight second division victories, Hertha make the short trip across the German capital on Friday night (17.09.10, kick off 18.00 CET), where rivals Union Berlin await them in round 4.

Match details:
Hertha BSC: Aerts – Lell, Hubnik, Mijatovic, Kobiashvili, Niemeyer, Rukavytsya (Schulz 60.), Raffael, Domovchiyski (Perdedaj 74.), Ramos Friend
Arminia Bielefeld: Eilhoff – Touré, Lense, Bollmann, Schuler, Kauf, Fischer, Heidinger, Baykan, Mustafi Neuville

Goals: 1-0 Friend (5.) 2-0 Ramos (7.) 3-0 Friend (79.) 3-1 Neuville (90+1)

Booked: Niemeyer./ Fischer Quaner
Referee: Günter Perl (Pullach)