Rapid resurgence hampers Hertha

AFC Rapid Bucuresti continued the fine form which saw them seal their progress to the UEFA Cup knockout stages, taking a significant step towards the last 16 with an impressive 1-0 victory against nine-man Hertha BSC Berlin.

Negru penalty
Valentin Marian Negru scored the only goal from the penalty spot with 22 minutes remaining, after Daniel Niculae had been brought down by Alexander Madlung. The home team fought back but their hopes were all but ended within six minutes when midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng was dismissed after a reckless challenge on Emil Dica. They were then reduced to nine players five minutes before full time when Madlung saw red for a deliberate handball.

Maftei marvels
The dismissals brought a cloudy end to a match that had started reasonably brightly for Falko Götz's team, as they sought their first win since early December. After a cagey opening spell Boateng saw a 16th-minute effort blocked by Rapid captain Vasile Maftei, and the impressive centre-back again rescued his side later in the half, diverting Marcelinho's close-range effort wide. Even when they did find a way past Rapid’s obdurate defence, the home team discovered Danut Coman in fine fettle and Václav Svěrkoš' header just before half-time forced a good save from the experienced goalkeeper.

Coman saves
Coman further distinguished himself three minutes after the restart with an acrobatic tip-over to deny Arne Friedrich's powerful header. And that was to prove the last clear-cut chance for the Bundesliga outfit as Rapid grew in strength, eventually taking the lead when Negru blasted a penalty past Christian Fiedler to silence the Olympiastadion. Coman was called upon to twice deny Christopher Veljeany late on and with Boateng and Madlung’s dismissals ruling them out of the return, Rapid have reason to be confident ahead of the second leg in Romania next Thursday.