Teams | July 16, 2017 at 10:12 PM

Leckie scores and Hertha win

Hertha won their second match of the Thüringer Mediencup 2-0 in Jena.

Jena - There was no trouble for Hertha in their second match of the Thüringer Mediencup. After winning their first match 3-0 in Erfurt, Pál Dárdai's men beat FC Carl Zeiss Jena 2-0 on Sunday afternoon. New signing Mathew Leckie scored his first goal for the club and Alexander Esswein was also on the scoresheet.

As was the case in Erfurt, an almost completely different team started the second half to the first, only Jonathan Klinsmann played the whole match in goal because of an injury to Rune Almenning Jarstein. "Rune just has a minor thigh injury, but it's nothing serious. It was good for Jonathan to play the whole match," explained Pál Dárdai.

Both teams needed about a quarter of an hour before they really found their feet in the match. Jena's keeper twice prevented his side from going behind by winning an aerial duel in the 15th minute and then denying Fabian Lustenberger, who had been played in nicely by Valentin Stocker, by getting his fingertips to the shot in the 22nd minute. After some good play from Julius Kade and Maurice Covic, the ball eventually reached Mathew Leckie who found the net for his first goal in Hertha colours after half an hour. Just three minutes later, Alexander Esswein extended Hertha's lead from the penalty spot after Kade was fouled in the area. Hertha had control of the game.

No goals in the second half

Pál Dárdai made wholesale changes to his team for the second period. Vedad Ibisevic had an early chance to make it 3-0, but his shot could only find the grateful arms of Jena's goalkeeper. Just a few minutes later the angle was too tight for Arne Maier and the youngster's shot could only find the keeper. A good cross from Ibisevic was met by Maximilian Mittelstädt, but his header wasn't accurate enough. Hertha were in control of the match but didn't create any further chances. Jena's Dietz had a shot from distance which just missed, as did Kalou's free-kick right before the end.

So the match ended 2-0 and the Blue-Whites now have two wins from two at the Thüringer Mediencup. Pál Dárdai will be pleased that his side have kept two clean sheets in the two matches. "It was a tough match, but we got the win so that's good. No one got injured and that's the most important thing," said the Hertha head coach. The capital city side will resume training on Tuesday at Schenckendorffplatz.

First half: Klinsmann - Pekarik, Baak, Lustenberger, Kurt - Skjelbred, Kade - Leckie, Covic, Stocker - Esswein
Second half: Klinsmann - Haraguchi, Langkamp, Rekik, Mittelstädt - Darida, Maier - Dárdai, Duda, Kalou - Ibisevic

Goals: 0-1 Leckie (31'), 0-2 Esswein (34', pen)

by Hertha BSC