Ivica Olic (l.) and Jan Polak (r.) celebrate the Croatian striker's opening goal in VfL Wolfsburg's 2-0 victory against Hertha Berlin
Ivica Olic (l.) and Jan Polak (r.) celebrate the Croatian striker's opening goal in VfL Wolfsburg's 2-0 victory against Hertha Berlin
Wolves back on track, Hertha suffer first defeat
Munich - VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV and FC Augsburg collected vital victories on Matchday 4, as Hertha Berlin were defeated for the first time this season and Eintracht Braunschweig failed to pick up a point for the fourth game in a row.
VfL Wolfsburg 2-0 Hertha Berlin
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Hertha Berlin’s unbeaten start to the season came to an end at the Volkswagen Arena as goals from Diego and Ivica Olic fired VfL Wolfsburg to a 2-0 victory.
Hertha started well and nearly opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock when Änis Ben-Hatira and Sami Allagui combined, with the latter missing the target from ten yards. The hosts began taking control, but failed to create any real openings until the 34th minute when Diego scuffed a shot wide of the target from inside the box.
Wolves’ patience rewarded
Olic opened the scoring for the hosts just before half-time, diverting Naldo’s long-range effort into the net, before USA international John Anthony Brooks brought down Diego inside the area minutes later. The Brazilian dusted himself down to convert the resulting spot-kick and double the hosts’ advantage going into the break.
Wolfsburg’s dominance continued in the second period and they almost made it three after 50 minutes. Ja-Cheol Koo rounded Thomas Kraft, but in being forced wide by the keeper, couldn't pick out a team-mate with the net unguarded. Hertha pressed hard to find a route back into the game, but struggled to trouble Dieter Hecking's side, who held on to seal victory.
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Hamburger SV 4-0 Eintracht Braunschweig
A dominant first half gave way to a one-man show in the second as hosts Hamburger SV recorded a 4-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig in the packed Imtech Arena.
With just one point from three league games, any nerves from the home fans were settled within eight minutes, as club captain Rafael van der Vaart slid in to direct a low cross past a stranded Daniel Davari in the Braunschweig goal. Shortly afterwards Jacques Zoua doubled the lead with his first Bundesliga goal after Maximilian Beister had demonstarted strength and nimble footwork on the right.
One brings two
A quiet start to the second half which saw Hamburg regularly probe from the edge of the box exploded into life with the entrance of Hakan Calhanoglu. The summer signing from Karlsruher SC netted his first top-flight goal in the 80th minute, beating several men on the edge of the box to bend a curling effort into the far corner.
The 19-year-old then sensationally bettered that effort by finding the top corner with a sumptuous set-piece, handing HSV their first win of the campaign and their biggest margin of victory under coach Thorsten Fink.
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1. FC Nürnberg 0-1 FC Augsburg
FC Augsburg recorded their second win in as many games with a 1-0 victory over Bavarian rivals 1. FC Nürnberg at the Grundig Stadion.
The visitors came close to taking the lead after three minutes when Raphael Holzhauser released Matthias Ostrzolek on the left wing, but his cross was too strong for Sascha Mölders. Raphael Schäfer was then forced into a save when Andre Hahn headed towards goal, but the veteran keeper managed to get a firm hand to the ball before Halil Altintop went close with another aerial effort just after the half-hour mark.
Vogt breaks deadlock
The visitors dominated proceedings after the break as Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker threatened with another header. Hahn’s effort was parried by Schäfer moments later, with the rebound falling to Altintop, who failed to hit the target on the follow up.
The hosts were reduced to ten men after 78 minutes when Pinola, who had been booked shortly after the restart, received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Paul Verhaegh, and the visitors soon made their extra man count. Tobias Werner’s shot struck the post, but Kevin Vogt was in the right place at the right time to slot home at the second attempt, sending Augsburg home with all three points.
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Matthew Howarth and Daniel Thacker
