It was midway through the first half and Niklas Dorsch brought down Santiago Ascacibar pretty hard in midfield. As a result, a dispute developed with many participants. Right in the middle on the part of Hertha BSC: Kevin-Prince Boateng. A little later, the midfielder picked up a yellow card after a tactical foul on Dorsch. And when the game was interrupted, he loudly directed his teammates in the away game at FC Augsburg.
volume on the pitch. One who goes ahead. That was always missing at Hertha BSC this season. Only this week coach Felix Magath noted that there is actually only one leading player in the team: Kevin-Prince Boateng. He ordered the 35-year-old, who last played from the start more than six months ago, into the starting XI. It is well known that he no longer has the speed of earlier days. In terms of presence and duels, Boateng was unquestionably convincing and took over the role of boss on the pitch.
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Just like Hertha fully accepted the relegation battle in the Bundesliga this time and won 1-0 (0-0). It was the first away win after nine attempts without a win. The team improved from 17th place to 15th place in the table.
Compared to the 1: 4 against 1. FC Union, Magath had changed his starting lineup to five positions. Stevan Jovetic was out injured, Linus Gechter had a cold, Vladimir Darida was on the bench and Julian Eitschberger and Myziane Maolida were not in the squad at all. The same was true for striker Ishak Belfodil. In addition to Boateng, Marvin Plattenhardt, Suat Serdar, Marco Richter and Davie Selke were also new.
In the early stages, Hertha tried above all to be defensively stable – which initially failed. After Lucas Tousart lost the ball to Mads Pedersen in his own penalty area in the second minute, it passed to Michael Gregoritsch. His shot clearly missed the goal. Otherwise, Hertha had things well under control at the back. There was only one greater chance for FCA from Alfred Finnbogason, with goalkeeper Marcel Lotka on hand. After that, until the break, there was little to see from the hosts apart from a free kick by Gregoritsch, which just went over the bar.
The game was briefly or longer interrupted in front of 28,533 spectators. The game rested for several minutes after Dorsch and Ascacibar hit their heads. Both then continued to play with a head bandage. However, Dorsch had also been treated off the field beforehand and in this short majority Hertha had their first good chance in the 21st minute: After a precise cross from Plattenhardt, Peter Pekarik shot over the goal from a good six meters.
The guests fought doggedly for those three important points until the end
After that, the Berliners dared to go forward more in the very hectic game without getting any big opportunities. Shortly before the break, Serdar and Richter tried long shots. Hertha didn’t score a goal before the break, but not getting a goal at the back could also be counted as a success. Hertha last managed that away from VfL Wolfsburg in mid-January.
With the start of the second half, Hertha disrupted the opponent very early on – and was quickly rewarded. After a throw-in by Augsburg, the guests captured the ball, Richter brought it inside after a one-two with Selke. There, Serdar finished splendidly with the hoe. The players cheered the goal and Magath and his assistant Mark Fotheringham hugged for a long time in front of the bench.
Serdar and Richter, both of whom have not yet had a chance in the second half of the season, were also involved in the next dangerous scene. After their combination, Richter’s flick went past.
Then Augsburg reported back. In the 55th minute, Gregoritsch’s header hit the crossbar, a little later Ruben Vargas couldn’t place the ball correctly with his head after a free kick from Dorsch.
After 69 minutes it was all over for Boateng, who, like Richter, went down. Niklas Stark and Anton Kade came.
The guests continued to fight doggedly for those three important points. They allowed little. About 15 minutes before the end, Iago shot over the goal from a promising position. Hertha had also led 1-0 in the first leg – and conceded the equalizer through Gregoritsch in the seventh minute of added time. It was coach Dardai’s last game. This time the stoppage time was a good five and a half minutes – and Hertha brought the win home. (Tsp)
