Comfortable victory against Baku

Hertha BSC won their friendly match against Neftchi Baku 4-0 on Wednesday evening.

Schladming - Hertha BSC beat Neftchi Baku 4-0 in Schladming thanks to goals from  Vladimir Darida (2'), Sebastian Langkamp (10'), Vedad Ibisevic (50') and Alexander Esswein (66').

The Blue-Whites started the match well and Darida's shot from 18 yards out gave the capital city club the lead in just the second minute. The Czech then turned provider as he set up Sebastian Langkamp for Hertha's second. The centre-back rose highest to head in. Ibisevic almost made it 3-0 inside 20 minutes after some good play from Mathew Leckie, but his shot just went wide. Thomas Kraft in the Berlin goal was only called into action once in the first half. The keeper came out on top in a one-on-one with Isayev. At the other end, Salomon Kalou and Ibisevic both missed chances to extend Hertha's lead before the break, but they went in 2-0 up at half-time.

Ibisevic kept trying in the second half and eventually got his goal in the 50th minute after some more good play from Leckie. Head coach Dárdai substituted his whole team ten minutes later, but Hertha continued to be the dominant side in the match. When Genki Haraguchi was fouled inside the penalty area, Alexander Esswein stepped up and put the game out of sight in the 66th minute. Youngster Julius Kade miss-hit a shot just four minutes later, otherwise it would have been five for Hertha. The Blue-Whites had a shot cleared off the line in the 85th minute and had to settle for a 4-0 win. "We've been working very hard this week, therefore, I'm happy with the performance. In the first half an hour we played some very nice football. Thereafter, the boys were a little tired. The second eleven had plenty of chances and should have scored more," said Pál Dárdai after the final whistle. "On the whole, I saw lots of things, such as the 'Gegenpressing', which we've been working on here. We need to continue to work on our energy on the pitch," added Dárdai.

The Hertha squad will train on Thursday and Friday in Schladming before playing a friendly against Galatasaray on Saturday (18:00 CEST). On Sunday the team will head back to Berlin.

Hertha BSC: Kraft - Weiser, Langkamp, Rekik, Plattenhardt - Darida, Skjelbred - Leckie, Duda, Kalou - Ibisevic 

Hertha BSC (from 60th minute): Klinsmann - Pekarik, Lustenberger, Baak, Mittelstädt - Stocker, Maier - Dárdai, Kade, Haraguchi - Esswein 

Goals: 1-0 Darida (2'), 2-0 Langkamp (10'), 3-0 Ibisevic (50'), 4-0 Esswein (66' pen.)