Hertha BSC Berlin 0 - 0 Eintracht Frankfurt : Hertha fail to secure safety

Posted Sunday, May 17, 2015 by PA

Hertha Berlin failed to get the mathematical safety they were looking for as they were held to a goalless draw at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.

There were few chances at the Olympiastadion on Hertha's final home game of the season, and with Hannover and Freiburg both winning, it means they will have to wait one more week before being certain of their place in the Bundesliga next season.

They travel to Hoffenheim next weekend still needing a point to be certain of staying up.

Frankfurt arrived in the capital with no concerns having secured their top-flight status a week ago, but they nevertheless seemed intent on ruining Hertha's party.

With spoiling tactics aimed at frustrating their hosts, they built a wall deep in their own half and asked Hertha to try to find a way round it. They could not.

Salomon Kalou skipped past Carlos Zambrano and Makoto Hasebe, but Alexander Madlung blocked his route to goal.

Another run from the Ivory Coast forward culminated in a shot which missed the target.

The second half started with a slight delay as the visiting fans burnt smoke flares, and when the air cleared, the fans witnessed the biggest chance of the game.

It was wasted by Kalou who, with only Kevin Trapp to beat, tried to lob the Frankfurt goalkeeper but ended up serving the ball on a plate for him.

Kalou set up Genki Haraguchi for one last Hertha chance late on, but he sent his shot wide of Trapp's goal, sending the fans home without their anticipated celebration with survival not yet mathematically certain.