46’ min.: Werder make one change at half-time. Thomas Delaney replaces Florian Grillitsch, who injured his back in a challenge with Salomon Kalou in the first-half.
52’ min.: Hertha expose empty space in behind Werder’s defence for the first time. Allan plays in Kalou in the Werder penalty area, but the Green-Whites recover to put the Ivorian under enough pressure that his shot goes wide.
64’ min.: Hertha are posing more of an attacking threat than in the first-half. However, the side from the capital are not creating any real chances, despite enjoying more possession than Werder.
71’ min.: Delaney finds himself in lots of space in behind the Hertha back-line. He takes his time before picking out Gebre Selassie in the middle, but the wing-back’s shot from eight yards flies harmlessly over the bar.
81’ min.: Hertha are giving everything to try and set up a nervy finish at the Weser-Stadion. The home side are a little fortunate not to concede a penalty after Sané takes out Ibisevic whilst trying to clear the ball on the goal line. No penalty given.
83’ min.: A couple of lapses in concentration from Werder are leading to chances for the away side. Haraguchi’s cross is met by Ibisevic whose header from seven yards is saved by Wiedwald.
89‘ min.: Werder almost put the game to bed as a cross from Kruse finds substitute Serge Gnabry at the back post, but his volley on the stretch just creeps over the bar.
90 + 3’ min.: Full-time at the Weser-Stadion. Werder beat Hertha BSC!
Conclusion: Hertha were unrelenting in their attempt to get something from the game – a trait that Werder have shown on numerous occasions in the second half of the season. But early goals from Fins Bartels and Max Kruse put Werder in control and the result never really looked in any doubt. Werder capitalised on any loss of ball possession by Hertha early on and looked very dangerous on the counter-attack. Once they had the lead, Werder controlled the game by keeping men behind the ball and defending solidly. Even when Hertha were enjoying a lot of possession in the second period, Werder limited the visitors to very few obvious goalscoring opportunities. All in all, Werder deserved their victory.
