VOndrej Duda had been part of Hertha BSC for four years before moving to 1. FC Köln at the end of 2020. In Berlin, the Slovak international had experienced a number of lows and some highs, but in the end those responsible lacked the belief that the sensitive midfielder could prevail under a coach who is not called Pal Dardai.
In Cologne, the coach is called Steffen Baumgart, but that doesn’t stop Duda from playing as effectively as in the best of Berlin times. The 27-year-old scored the decisive 2-0 against his former club. Although Hertha made the connection, the Cologne team won 3-1 by Duda, were happy about a successful start to the second half of the season and the jump to sixth place.
Hertha experienced a setback after the exciting 3-2 win against Dortmund before the winter break. The Berlin team never came close to the performance from the last game of the first half of the season. Cologne got off to a better start. Duda (19th) and Mark Uth (21st) had their first good opportunities. But the Berlin team of coach Tayfun Korkut should have taken the lead when Myziane Maolida suddenly appeared free in front of the Cologne gate guarded by Marvin Schwänke.
Would be a good choice right now
Despite the return of the long-injured Timo Horn, Schwänke will remain number one for the time being, Baumgart has committed himself to that. Schwabe should play all league games by February 1st, Horn the dispute in the DFB Cup with Hamburger SV. After that, Baumgart wants to make a new decision. With his parade against Maolida (28th), he showed that Schwänke is a good choice at the moment.
Despite the big chance in Berlin, Cologne was the more playful team with the better ideas. Targeted they attacked again and again from the outside to look for their striker Modeste with flanks. So it was 0: 1. Uth crossed from the left directly to the head of Modeste, who easily completed (29th). For the French it was the ninth header goal of the season, only Sergej Barbarez and Jan Koller (both eleven) were more successful in this regard. Modeste still have enough attempts to break the record.
Without decisive influence from the sidelines: Hertha coach Tayfun Korkut
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Image: dpa
Hertha’s back team hadn’t sorted itself out properly when the next cross rushed into the Berlin penalty area. Niklas Stark was only able to clear the middle, where Duda had already positioned himself and scored 0: 2 with a direct shot. Modeste even had the chance to make an early decision before the break (42nd).
After the break, there were initially no new players, but a new referee. The injured Tobias Stieler was replaced by Alexander Sather. Sather led a game in the second half that flattened out more and more.
Vladimir Darida shortened by pulling a free kick on the second post, which no one could reach (57th), but the Berliners were no longer urgently dangerous as a result. In stoppage time, Thielmann ended with the 1: 3.
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