- John Brooks (12')
- Valentin Stocker (37')
John Brooks on target as Hertha Berlin see off Augsburg
Hertha Berlin capitalised on their strong record at home to defeat Augsburg 2-0 on Sunday, ending their three-game losing run while leaving the visitors in the Bundesliga's relegation zone.
With 11 wins from 14 games at home compared to seven straight defeats away, Hertha would doubtless gladly play all of their games at the Olympiastadion, though they recently announced plans for a new purpose-built stadium.
American defender John Anthony Brooks headed the home side into an early lead when he stretched to deflect Valentin Stocker's shot past Augsburg keeper Marwin Hitz.
Stocker made it 2-0 before the break thanks to good work from Vedad Ibisevic. The Hertha captain held off two defenders and played an incisive pass to Salomon Kalou, who unselfishly laid the ball off for Stocker to score.
Augsburg improved in the second half but Alfred Finnbogason put their only real chance wide, minutes before Ibisevic did likewise at the other end.
"We should have scored the third goal to be really happy. Unfortunately we missed that," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said. "But there was never any danger of Augsburg coming back into it."
Hertha moved fifth, seven points behind Borussia Dortmund, who hold the last spot for possible Champions League football with six games yet to play.
Augsburg, winless in six games, remained in the relegation playoff spot, just behind Mainz on goal difference.
"The only thing we can do it to keep believing in ourselves and to keep working," Augsburg captain Paul Verhaegh said.
Game Information
German Bundesliga Standings
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayer Leverkusen | 29 | 25 | 4 | 0 | +55 | 79 |
| Bayern Munich | 29 | 20 | 3 | 6 | +46 | 63 |
| VfB Stuttgart | 29 | 20 | 3 | 6 | +33 | 63 |
| RB Leipzig | 29 | 17 | 5 | 7 | +34 | 56 |
| Borussia Dortmund | 29 | 16 | 8 | 5 | +23 | 56 |
| Eintracht Frankfurt | 29 | 10 | 12 | 7 | +4 | 42 |
| FC Augsburg | 29 | 10 | 9 | 10 | +1 | 39 |
| SC Freiburg | 29 | 11 | 6 | 12 | -11 | 39 |
| TSG Hoffenheim | 29 | 10 | 6 | 13 | -8 | 36 |
| 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 | 29 | 8 | 10 | 11 | -8 | 34 |
| Borussia Monchengladbach | 29 | 7 | 10 | 12 | -6 | 31 |
| Werder Bremen | 29 | 8 | 7 | 14 | -13 | 31 |
| 1. FC Union Berlin | 29 | 8 | 5 | 16 | -20 | 29 |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | -16 | 28 |
| VfL Bochum | 29 | 5 | 12 | 12 | -25 | 27 |
| Mainz | 29 | 5 | 11 | 13 | -17 | 26 |
| FC Cologne | 29 | 4 | 10 | 15 | -28 | 22 |
| SV Darmstadt 98 | 29 | 2 | 8 | 19 | -44 | 14 |
Bundesliga News