Salomon Kalou strikes late to guide Hertha Berlin to vital win

Salomon Kalou scored an 88th-minute winner as Hertha Berlin claimed a shock 1-0 win over Augsburg to climb out of the Bundesliga relegation zone this afternoon.

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Augsburg dominated the exchanges throughout the first half, but Hertha defended impressively to frustrate the visitors, whose best chance of the opening 45 minutes came when Raul Bobadilla dragged a shot just wide of the post.

Hertha offered a more positive approach after the break, and they were almost rewarded with a goal early in the second half when Per Skjelbred's powerful strike drifted wide.

The visitors continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides, but it was Hertha who struck the crucial blow late on thanks to their Ivorian forward.

A long throw into the danger zone was impressively controlled by Jens Hegeler, and Kalou reacted quickest to his teammate's cross to fire home from close range and earn Hertha just their second win of 2015.