Two late goals enough to beat Rostock

Hertha left it until the last few minutes to become the 32nd and final team into the Pokal second round as Mitchell Weiser and Vedad Ibisevic struck late to see off a spirited Hansa Rostock.

Rostock – Hertha will play in the second round oft he DFB Pokal after overcoming third league Hansa Rostock on Monday evening. The game was marred by the letting off of flares midway through the second hald, which caused the players to come off the pitch for 13 minutes. When play resumed, Pal Dardai’s side scored two quick goals to deservedly progress.

Line-up

Dardai made just one change from the side that beat Galatasary in the final pre-season friendly, with Mathew Leckie replacing Peter Pekarik. Both Leckie and Karim Rekik made their first competitive appearances for Hertha.

Spielverlauf

Match Highlights

The home side looked to try and control the game in the opening phases in front of loud home support but there was no way through the Hertha defence – something they would experience for the entirety of the 90 minutes. Hertha’s best chance came through Alex Esswein, but the forward could not keep his volley down and the same player was unlucky to see another effort roll agonizingly wide a few minutes later.

Hertha came out after the break and took the game by the scruff oft he neck. Vladimir Darida fired a warning shot just after the restart and Kalou went even closer shortly after following a pass from Leckie. The best moment of the game came just after the hour, as Darida saw his effort crash back off the bar before Kalou’s acrobatics forced a splendid save from the Rostock ‘keeper when the ball was played back in.

A break in play

It seemed the opening goal was a matter of when not if for Hertha, but all football was stopped with 13 minutes to go as trouble in the stands forced the referee to call both sets of players in.

When play resumed Mitchell Weiser was finally able to break the deadolock, rifling home from just inside the box after Marvin Plattenhardt’s corner had not been properly cleared.

As the clock ticked down Leckie broke free, before selfishly squaring for Ibisevic to tap home into an empty net.

Overview

This weekend sees the return of the Bundesliga, and Pal Dardai and Hertha will now spend the rest of the week preparing for the visit of VfB Stuttgart to the Olympiastadion at 15:30 on Saturday.

Rostock – Hertha will play in the second round oft he DFB Pokal after overcoming third league Hansa Rostock on Monday evening. The game was marred by the letting off of flares midway through the second hald, which caused the players to come off the pitch for 13 minutes. When play resumed, Pal Dardai’s side scored two quick goals to deservedly progress.

Line-up

Dardai made just one change from the side that beat Galatasary in the final pre-season friendly, with Mathew Leckie replacing Peter Pekarik. Both Leckie and Karim Rekik made their first competitive appearances for Hertha.

Match Highlights

The home side looked to try and control the game in the opening phases in front of loud home support but there was no way through the Hertha defence – something they would experience for the entirety of the 90 minutes. Hertha’s best chance came through Alex Esswein, but the forward could not keep his volley down and the same player was unlucky to see another effort roll agonizingly wide a few minutes later.

Hertha came out after the break and took the game by the scruff oft he neck. Vladimir Darida fired a warning shot just after the restart and Kalou went even closer shortly after following a pass from Leckie. The best moment of the game came just after the hour, as Darida saw his effort crash back off the bar before Kalou’s acrobatics forced a splendid save from the Rostock ‘keeper when the ball was played back in.

A break in play

It seemed the opening goal was a matter of when not if for Hertha, but all football was stopped with 13 minutes to go as trouble in the stands forced the referee to call both sets of players in. When play resumed Mitchell Weiser was finally able to break the deadolock, rifling home from just inside the box after Marvin Plattenhardt’s corner had not been properly cleared. As the clock ticked down Leckie broke free, before selfishly squaring for Ibisevic to tap home into an empty net.

Overview

This weekend sees the return of the Bundesliga, and Pal Dardai and Hertha will now spend the rest of the week preparing for the visit of VfB Stuttgart to the Olympiastadion at 15:30 on Saturday.