Verhaegh penalty downs Hertha
Augsburg - Paul Verhaegh's first-half penalty was enough to give FC Augsburg a 1-0 home win over Hertha Berlin on Sunday.
Verhaegh on point
The visitors came into the game chasing successive league wins for the first time since December 2013, but found chances at a premium against a disciplined Augsburg back four.
Hertha's Hajime Hosogai was back at the club where he spent the 2011/12 campaign on loan before moving to the capital from Bayer 04 Leverkusen in summer 2013. Japanese compatriot Genki Haraguchi was also involved from the get-go, the former Urawa Red Diamonds forward teeing up Salomon Kalou for the first notable shot at goal of the afternoon.
Haraguchi rifled wide from distance as Hertha stepped up the search for their second win of the season, but it was the hosts who got their noses in front with 26 minutes gone. The rampaging Raul Bobadilla went to ground in the box under the challenge of Hertha goalkeeper Thomas Kraft, who was helpless to stop FCA skipper Verhaegh dispatching the ensuing spot-kick.
Baba the boss
A goal to the good, Augsburg raised the tempo with Dominik Kohr waltzing through the Hertha backline and drawing a smart save from Kraft. Bobadilla almost found Nikola Djurdjic for a second on the stroke of half time, but the flag had already gone up for offside.
Hertha had created little thanks in no small part to uncompromising Augsburg defender Abdul Rahman Baba, but on the rare occasion the Ghanaian was caught out of position, Kalou was unable take advantage. Marwin Hitz proved his worth to deny a Mike Beerens volley, before Djurdjic spurned another good opening at the other end.
Augburg hold out
As Hertha's three-goal frontman Julian Schieber entered the fray at the expense of Haraguchi, Augsburg's immovable Baba again got in the way of a promising opening for Kalou, who wasn't exactly helped by a disappointing first touch.
Valentin Stocker and Änis Ben-Hatira joined the action as Hertha tactician Jos Luhukay rolled the dice, but Markus Weinzierl's men held out to record their third league win of the season.
Line-ups and statistics
