Hoffenheim Thump Limp Hertha

Bundesliga action in 2014 came to a close on Sunday as Hoffenheim handed hosts Hertha a hammering in the German capital. Freiburg are at home against Hannover in the late game.

Hertha hosted Hoffenheim in Germany's capital and in a fairly subdued opening, Thomas Kraft's flap at a corner nearly cost the home team - Kevin Volland's shot in the ensuing goalmouth scramble was blocked.



The game looked as though it wasn't going to need something special or unusual to spark it into life. When Kevin Volland's dangerous cross came in, that moment arrived as Hertha defender John Anthony Brooks converted the ball into his own net.



Two minutes later, things went from bad to worse for the American international as he gave away a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Sven Schipplock. Sejad Salihovic stepped up and converted his 27th Bundesliga penalty and in the blink of an eye Hoffenheim were two goals to the good.



Both Brooks and Hertha struggled to recover from their setback. Kraft had to make a smart save to keep out a long-range Eugen Polanski effort.



Hertha fall apart



Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck then slipped in the area and Nico Schulz was blamed by referee Peter Sippel, giving the visitors their second penalty. Salihovic stepped up and converted again making it 3-0 - a scoreline that would stand at the break.



It took Hertha 10 minutes to muster their first chance of both the half and the game, but Anis Ben-Hatira slipped his back-post shot wide after a good run and cross from Schulz. Jos Luhukay's side lacked urgency and intent for most of the game, but particularly in the second half when they needed it most.



A counterattack from the visitors fifteen minutes before the end made the arrival of Solomon Kalou and Sandro Wagner irrelevant for Hertha.



Roberto Firmino squared for Schipplock and he ran it into the empty net. Peter Niemeyer's terrible mistake allowed Firmino to set up substitute Sebastian Rudy for a fifth. The resounding defeat left Hertha fans wondering whether they want a new manager for Christmas.