Hertha BSC and 1. FSV Mainz 05 shared the points in a hard-fought game in the Bundesliga. Thanks to the 1-1, Hertha remains on a non-relegation zone, at least for the time being, Mainz keeps an eye on the European places.
In a hard-fought game, Jessic Ngankam put coach Sandro Schwarz’s team ahead with a penalty goal in the 14th minute. Ludovic Ajorque curled the ball into the corner in the 55th minute to equalize and make it 1-1.
Intensive initial phase
Both teams wanted to set the tone early in the game. Tackles and numerous whistles from referee Benjamin Cortus littered the opening minutes. Hertha created more chances to score.
Jessic Ngankam, who replaced Dodi Lukebakio in the Hertha storm, caused unrest in the Mainz penalty area for the first time after four minutes. He drove a counterattack down the right flank, Florian Niederlechner narrowly missed his pass into the sixteen. A shot by Suat Serdar was parried by Robin Zentner in the ninth minute.
Hertha takes the lead with a VAR penalty
In the 14th minute, Cortus awarded Hertha a penalty after VAR intervention. Edimilson Fernandes touched a cross from Lucas Tousart with his hand and slightly changed the trajectory. “After looking at the pictures, it was clear that it was a punishable handball,” Cortus defended his decision on the sports show microphone after the final whistle. Ngankam grabbed the leather and put the penalty right-half and low in the net.
Goal area scenes and degrees were rarely found after the half-time whistle. Oliver Christensen easily parried the first Mainz shot on goal by Anton Stach (24th minute), while Marco Richter shot a free kick from 25 meters into the wall on the other side (38th).
Ajorque shoots dream goal
Ten minutes after the restart, Ludovic Ajorque submitted his bid for Goal of the Week. The Frenchman processed a cross on the edge of the area and headed the ball to Leandro Barreiro, who played it back for Ajorque.
The winter newcomer turned on his own axis and threw the ball into the top right corner of the crease. Driven by the equalizer, Mainz created several opportunities. Filip Uremovic cleared an Ajorque headball (62′) into the goal, Anton Stach put the following corner cross next to the box. Substitute Karim Onisiwo placed an overhead kick a good two meters wide of the goal (67th).
But Hertha found their way back into the game. In the 68th minute, Marc Oliver Kempf headed a cross to the crossbar, Zentner would have had no chance, Hertha’s first big chance after the break. A shot by substitute top scorer Dodi Lukebakio went wide of the left post (75′).
The last chance of the game belonged to Onisiwo, whose shot from a few yards out was blocked by a series of Hertha legs shortly before the end.
Important duel for Hertha on the next matchday
Hertha BSC is challenged on Matchday 25 away at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in a direct relegation duel (Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Mainz welcomes SC Freiburg a day later (7:30 p.m.).
