Braunschweig slump to Berlin defeat
Braunschweig - Eintracht Braunschweig remain rooted to the foot of the Bundesliga table after a 2-0 home defeat to Hertha Berlin.
Bright Braunschweig
Adrian Ramos’ close-range header opened the scoring for the visitors, before the impressive Ronny set up Tolga Cigerci ten minutes from time to seal a deserved victory for Jos Luhukay’s team.
With 1. FC Nürnberg, SC Freiburg and Eintracht Frankfurt all failing to register a win on Matchday 15, Braunschweig knew they could make up ground on their relegation rivals with victory, and they might have taken the lead inside the first ten minutes. Torsten Oehrl’s clever back-heel set up Orhan Ademi, but the Macedonian failed to get enough power behind his shot and Thomas Kraft was able to gather with ease.
The hosts continued to press for an opener and almost found it following a quick counter-attack that culminated in Ademi laying the ball off to Mirko Boland, whose shot from the edge of the penalty area flew inches wide of Kraft’s right-hand post via a deflection off John Anthony Brooks. Nico Schulz then fired against the crossbar at the other end as the visitors began to get a foothold in the match.
Ramos strikes
Eintracht were then made to pay for their early profligacy in front of goal when Ronny’s corner towards the near post was headed home by Adrian Ramos with 20 minutes on the clock. The goal - Ramos’ eighth of the season - seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side, who suddenly found themselves on the back foot. Indeed, had Ronny managed to strike his 45th-minute free-kick with more venom, Berlin might have gone in at the break two goals up.
Immediately after the restart they almost did find a second goal. Daniel Davari could only parry Ronny’s low effort into the path of Ramos, but the Braunschweig stopper was up quickly to deny the Colombian, who had reacted quickest to the loose ball. Marcel Ndjeng then did well to divert Oehrl’s goal-bound effort wide of the post.
Cigerci seals it
Striker Domi Kumbela replaced Kevin Kratz midway through the second period as Braunschweig searched for a leveller. Deniz Dogan’s 20-yard free-kick looked like it might nestle in the top corner, but the centre-back’s effort curled just wide of the frame of the goal. As Torsten Lieberknecht's men continued to push forward, they left themselves exposed at the back and Hertha took full advantage.
Ronny, who had been at the centre of most of Hertha’s attacking play throughout the afternoon, won the ball in midfield and advanced on the Braunschweig penalty area, playing in Cigerci, who fired past Davari to lift Berlin up to seventh in the standings. Braunschweig, for whom Timo Perthel was dismissed late on for a second yellow card, continue to prop up the league table.
Matthew Howarth
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