Metalist dominate
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Scoring Summary
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FC Metalist Kharkiv
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Hertha Berlin
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Match Stats
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FC Metalist Kharkiv
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Hertha Berlin
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Shots (on Goal)
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9(6)
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5(1)
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Fouls
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5
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9
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Corner Kicks
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3
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2
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Offsides
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3
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1
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Time of Possession
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51%
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49%
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Yellow Cards
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2
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2
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Red Cards
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0
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0
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Saves
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1
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5
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Match Information
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Stadium:
Metalist Stadium
Attendance: 40,000
Match Time: 12:00 ET
Official(s):
Bjorn Kuipers (Referee)
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Updated: November 6, 2008, 3:00 AM ET
KHARKIV, November 6 (UEFA Cup) - Hertha Berlin were fortunate to escape with a point as their UEFA Cup Group B clash with Metalist Kharkiv finished goalless.
Metalist, in their opening game of the group, dominated proceedings but a combination of a lack of creativity and Hertha Berlin's returning goalkeeper, Jaroslav Drobny, denied the hosts a win.
First-choice goalkeeper Drobny returned to the starting line-up after a calf injury kept him out of their 5-1 Bundesliga defeat against Werder Bremen last weekend.
Their opponents were without Brazilian striker Jaja, who is already into double figures for the season in all competitions, but fellow forward Marko Devic, the top scorer in Ukraine last season, did start.
And it was Devic that led the onslaught for Metalist as Drobny was welcomed back with a barrage of early shots from the Ukrainian side.
But the Czech goalkeeper proved his fitness and stood firm, repelling efforts from Devic as well as Jackson Coelho and Jonatan Roman Maidana.
With Hertha under pressure, Andriy Voronin attempted to inspire his team-mates midway through the first half, but his shooting was awry as he fired wide from 12 yards and over from just outside the area.
His team-mate Santos Cicero also failed to hit the target.
Hertha for the most part had impressed on their travels this season, winning three out of six away from home in the Bundesliga, but they struggled to assert themselves in Kharkiv.
The Ukrainian side, lying second in their domestic league, had already demonstrated their pedigree by defeating Turkish giants Besiktas in the first round of the UEFA Cup.
Disappointed by a lack of clear-cut chances, but boosted by their monopoly of the ball, the hosts continued their assault after half time.
But Drobny foiled Vitali Bordiyan from 25 yards and the Czech keeper was also on hand to save Devic's header from six yards out.
His counterpart, Alexandr Goryainov, was also pressed into action as Gojko Kacar headed Voronin's cross goalwards.
In injury time Drobny again denied Metalist, saving from substitute Ruslan Fomin, and the first meeting between the side's ended without a goal.
FC Metalist Kharkiv 0 - 0 Hertha Berlin
