Hertha leave it late to see off Heerenveen
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Match Stats
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Heerenveen
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Hertha Berlin
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Shots (on Goal)
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4(1)
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8(5)
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Fouls
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7
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6
|
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Corner Kicks
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2
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10
|
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Offsides
|
3
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3
|
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Time of Possession
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50%
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50%
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Yellow Cards
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0
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1
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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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8
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2
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Match Information
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Stadium:
Abe Lenstra Stadion, Netherlands
Attendance: 20,000
Match Time: 18:00 UK
Official(s):
Pavel Balaj (Referee)
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Updated: November 5, 2009, 8:19 AM UK
Valeri Domovchiyski scored twice and Artur Wichniarek struck in second-half stoppage time as Hertha Berlin beat Heerenveen 3-2 for their first victory in the Europa League to stay in the running in Group D.
Michal Papadopulos twice gave Heerenveen the lead in the third and 36th minutes only to see Domovchiyski equalise after 21 and 52 minutes.
Wichniarek won the points for Hertha a minute into injury time.
Friedhelm Funkel won his first game for Berlin, who joined their opponents on four points after four matches.
Heerenveen went ahead after just three minutes. Hernan Losada's corner arrived at Papadopulos, who had plenty of space unmarked by Maximilian Nicu and volleyed home from six yards.
Wichniarek missed just right in the 14th minute for Hertha and Oussama Assaidi was just wide two minutes later at the other end.
Hertha equalised after 21 minutes when Heerenveen captain Michel Breuer could not control a ball in his own area. Wichniarek snatched it from him and crossed to Domovchiyski, who struck home from seven yards.
Berlin controlled the proceedings but Wichniarek shot just wide left in the 24th and Heerenveen keeper Brian Vandenbussche made a fine save from Nicu three minutes later.
That allowed the hosts to regain the lead in the 36th minute. Assaidi eased his way past Marc Stein on the right side of Hertha's defence and crossed to Papadopulos, who nodded home from eight yards.
Berlin levelled the game seven minutes after the break after a horrible mistake by Losada, whose backpass attempt was stolen by Domovchiyski.
The Bulgarian passed onto Wichniarek, who returned the ball to Domovchiyski to score from five yards out.
Domovchiyski nearly made it a hat-trick eight minutes later but hit the far left post after beating Vandenbussche.
The Dutch were close to regaining the lead again after 65 minutes but Roy Beerens struck just wide right from 10 yards.
Vandenbussche kept the game even just a minute later blocking shots by Wichniarek and Domovchiyski as the visitors remained determined to bag three points.
And the Belgian keeper again stopped Wichniarek from point-blank range four minutes from the final whistle.
But Wichniarek finally beat Vandenbussche, blasting home Domovchiyski's cross from the left.
Heerenveen 2 - 3 Hertha Berlin