Not Done Yet, But Not A Bad Place to Be

A 2-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic today meant that we’re in a good position to advance to the next UEFA Cup round, but it doesn’t mean we should be counting on it. It’s not the most difficult of deficits to overturn (nothing like the 8-1 win from the first qualifier, for example). But it’s still a good place to be in, especially with the clean sheet.

St. Pat’s, as I think everyone was expecting, were valiant and tenacious (and somewhat massed in defense), playing well in the first half which ended at 0-0. Hertha, as was also not too difficult to predict, were nervy, a little bit disorganized at the start, and probably underestimating the Irish.

But in the end, it was a 2-0 win and ended up being pretty comfortable. After the first half ended goalless, Lulu changed up the team a bit, substituting Gojko and Pal Dardai and sending on Fabien Lustenberger and new boy Maximilian Nicu. Nicu promptly justified the substitution, scoring a lovely volley on the 50th minute for Hertha to take the lead. Another goal from Cicero (that’s two in a row from our philosopher) followed on the 67th. Andriy Voronin’s shot was blocked and the Brazilian slammed in the rebound, this time with his foot.

So not bad, but not so great that St. Pat’s won’t show up with a purpose in Dublin. The important thing is that we didn’t concede any goals, so they won’t have the benefit of an away goal. We just need to have a solid game in two weeks, and the group stages beckon.

Category: europe, match reports

Tags: europe, home, match reports

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