Hertha edge towards group stage
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Article summary
Hertha BSC Berlin 2-0 Saint Patrick's Athletic FC
Goals from Maximilian Nicu and Cicero Santos put Hertha BSC Berlin in the driving seat of their UEFA Cup first round tie against their Irish opponents.
Article top media content
Article body
Second-half goals from substitute Maximilian Nicu and Cicero Santos put Hertha BSC Berlin in the driving seat of their UEFA Cup first round tie, but the hosts were pushed hard by a well-drilled Saint Patrick's Athletic FC side.
Deadlock
A crowd of 13,000 saw Hertha struggle to live up to their billing as favourites as the Irish side's tightly-packed defence held firm in the first half. Hertha lacked creativity and drive while St Patrick's defended stoutly to ensure the sides went in at the break locked at 0-0.
Hertha strike
Hertha coach Lucien Favre introduced Fabian Lustenberger for Gojko Kačar and Nicu for Pál Dárdai at half-time and the double switch soon paid dividends. Five minutes after the restart the visitors failed to clear a Hertha corner and the loose ball fell to Nicu, who lofted a shot past goalkeeper Barry Ryan to put the home side in front. Having broken the deadlock Hertha pressed again and doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Santos slotted past Ryan to put the German side in command ahead of the second leg in Dublin on 30 September.