A win with a bitter aftertaste

Hertha BSC steht in der 2. Pokalrunde. Doch Fanausschreitungen auf den Rängen und unschöne Szenen trüben die guten sportlichen Ansätze der Blau-Weißen.

Berlin - Mit dem Ergebnis zeigte sich Herthas Trainer Pál Dárdai nach dem ersten Pflichtspiel der neuen Saison zufrieden. Die Erstrundenpartie bei Hansa Rostock war sportlich gesehen eine Herausforderung, die die Herthaner mit guter Defensivarbeit und viel Geduld verdient für sich entschieden. "Unser Gegner war insgesamt sehr gut organisiert und stand kompakt, sodass es wie erwartet extrem schwierig für uns wurde, zu guten Gelegenheiten zu kommen", bilanzierte Dárdai nach dem Spiel. Die Geduld zahlte sich aus, Rostock wurde sukzessive müder und die Blau-Weißen belohnten sich durch die späten Tore von Mitchell Weiser (86.) und Vedad Ibisevic (90.). Herthas Kapitän ordnete das Ergebnis trocken ein: "Das war ‘Business as usual‘. Wir wussten, dass es kein Selbstläufer werden würde und wir haben uns auch lange Zeit schwer getan. Am Ende haben wir uns aber verdient durchgesetzt, was die Hauptsache ist."

Doch neben dem erfreulichen Ergebnis auf dem Rasen des Ostseestadions sorgten Einzelne beider Fanlager für unschöne Nebengeräusche auf den Tribünen. Alles andere als 'Business as usual' musste die Partie in der zweiten Halbzeit zweimal unterbrochen werden. Das erste Mal, nachdem Feuerwerk aus dem Berliner Block abgeschossen wurde und ein zweites Mal, als das vor etwa drei Jahren entwendete Ostkurven-Banner vor dem Rostocker Block verbrannt wurde. "Normalerweise freut man sich, wenn man im Pokal weiterkommt. Diese Freude ist aber natürlich getrübt. Wir haben heute viele Szenen gesehen, die kein Mensch in einem Fußballstadion sehen möchte", zeigte Herthas Manager Michael Preetz nach Schlusspfiff klare Kante. Auch Kapitän Ibisevic schloss sich an: "So ein Verhalten von sogenannten Fans hat nichts im Stadion zu suchen. Es war sehr schade, dass das Spiel unterbrochen werden musste, aber ebenso wichtig, dass wir es zu Ende gebracht haben."

Weiser mit dem erlösenden Treffer

Bei der Unterbrechung in der 77. Minute hatte es noch torlos gestanden. Nach der Anfangsoffensive der Hausherren hatten die Blau-Weißen die Begegnung im Griff, lediglich die Einschussgelegenheiten wollten sich noch nicht einstellen - analysierte auch Innenverteidiger Sebastian Langkamp: "Der Gegner hat es generell gut gemacht, deswegen ein Kompliment an die Rostocker. Es war schwierig, Chancen zu kreieren - wir müssen die Automatismen noch verbessern und die unnötigen Abspielfehler abstellen." Das gelang nach dem Seitenwechsel schon besser. Vladimir Darida mit je einem Schuss knapp vorbei (49.) und gegen den Pfosten (63.) sowie Salomon Kalou, der an seiner Schussgenauigkeit (54.) und mit einem Seitfallzieher an Rostock blendend parierenden Schlussmann Janis Blaswich scheiterte (63.), hätte die Führung bereits erzielen können.

Das wichtige 1:0 der Herthaner gelang erst nach der unsäglichen Unterbrechung. Sehenswert rückte in der 86. Minute das Sportliche wieder in en Fokus: Halbrechts im Strafraum bekam Mitchell Weiser den Ball unter Kontrolle und vollendete technisch versiert mit einem trockenen Schuss hoch ins lange Eck zur erlösenden Führung. Der FC Hansa suchte danach sein Heil in der Offensive, allerdings ohne Herthas Defensivreihe entscheidend in die Bredouille zu bringen. Im Gegenteil: Die Berliner konterten sich in der Nachspielzeit zur Entscheidung. Nach Ballgewinn im Mittelfeld tauchte Neuzugang Mathew Leckie frei vor dem Rostocker Tor auf, legte uneigennützig quer und Ibisevic machte problemlos aus Nahdistanz den Deckel drauf. "Es ging heute darum, weiterkommen", befand Michael Preetz. "Am Wochenende startet die Bundesliga-Saison gegen den VfB Stuttgart, das wird sicherlich wieder eine andere Partie."

Hertha BSC are through to the second round of the DFB-Pokal. But, unfortunately, violence amongst fans and other unpleasant scenes put a dampener on the Blue-White’s achievement.

Hertha Coach Pál Dárdai was happy with the result of the first competitive match of the season. The first round game against Hansa Rostock presented a real sporting challenge, but it was one that Hertha were able to overcome thanks to solid defensive work and plenty of patience. “Our opposition were very well organised and very compact, which meant that, as expected, it was very difficult for us to create good chances,” explained Dárdai after the match. However, Hertha’s patience paid off in the end. Rostock became increasingly tired and the Blue-Whites took full advantage with their two late goals from Mitchell Weiser and Vedad Ibisevic. Hertha’s captain simply stated that the game was “´Business as usual`. We knew that nothing was going to be given to us, and for a long time we found things difficult. But in the end we made the breakthrough, and that’s all that matters.”

However, alongside the pleasing result at the Ostseestadion, some fans took it upon themselves to direct some unpleasant chants at the players. Furthermore, while everything else was ´Business as usual`, in the second half the game twice had to be halted. The first incident was caused by a firework set off in the Berlin stand, whilst the second came as Rostock fans set fire to the Ostkurven banner that had been stolen some three years ago. Hertha’s sporting director, Michael Preetz, made his feelings clear after the final whistle, “Normally you feel happy when you make it through to the next round of the cup. But, of course, this happiness has been tainted. We saw many scenes today that no one wants to be seeing at a football match.” Captain Ibisevic also voiced his opinion on the matter, “Such behavior from certain fans has no place in a stadium. It was a real shame that the game was interrupted, but it was also important for us to come away with the right result”.

Weiser scores the breakthrough goal

By the time of the second interruption, the game was still goalless. After the hosts’ initial push, the Blue-Whites had taken control of the tie; the only problem was that the crucial opportunity wasn’t presenting itself - centre-back Sebastian Langkamp gave his view on this period the game, “Rostock did well. It was difficult to create chances - but we need to improve our killer instinct and cut out our unnecessary mistakes.” After the change of ends things started going a bit better. Vladimir Darida hit the post shortly after the break, before Salomon Kalou almost gave Hertha the lead as he forced a good save from Rostock keeper Janis Blaswich.

Hertha eventually made the all-important break-through in the 86th minute after the unfortunate interruption, with the goal succeeded in putting the focus back on the football. Surging into the penalty area, Mitchell Weiser controlled the ball and kept his cool and he sent his powerful shot into the far corner to give Hertha the lead. FC Hansa then went on the offensive, but Hertha defended in numbers to keep them out. The Berliners then sealed the game as they counter attacked decisively in stoppage time. After winning the ball in midfield, new signing Mathew Leckie bore down on the Rostock goal before unselfishly passing the ball across to Ibisevic who had no problems finishing off the move. “Today was all about getting through to the next round” explained Michael Preetz. “Our Bundesliga season kicks off this weekend against VfB Stuttgart, and that’s going to be a whole new challenge for us”.

Hertha Coach Pál Dárdai was happy with the result of the first competitive match of the season. The first round game against Hansa Rostock presented a real sporting challenge, but it was one that Hertha were able to overcome thanks to solid defensive work and plenty of patience. “Our opposition were very well organised and very compact, which meant that, as expected, it was very difficult for us to create good chances,” explained Dárdai after the match. However, Hertha’s patience paid off in the end. Rostock became increasingly tired and the Blue-Whites took full advantage with their two late goals from Mitchell Weiser and Vedad Ibisevic. Hertha’s captain simply stated that the game was “´Business as usual`. We knew that nothing was going to be given to us, and for a long time we found things difficult. But in the end we made the breakthrough, and that’s all that matters.”

However, alongside the pleasing result at the Ostseestadion, some fans took it upon themselves to direct some unpleasant chants at the players. Furthermore, while everything else was ´Business as usual`, in the second half the game twice had to be halted. The first incident was caused by a firework set off in the Berlin stand, whilst the second came as Rostock fans set fire to the Ostkurven banner that had been stolen some three years ago. Hertha’s sporting director, Michael Preetz, made his feelings clear after the final whistle, “Normally you feel happy when you make it through to the next round of the cup. But, of course, this happiness has been tainted. We saw many scenes today that no one wants to be seeing at a football match.” Captain Ibisevic also voiced his opinion on the matter, “Such behavior from certain fans has no place in a stadium. It was a real shame that the game was interrupted, but it was also important for us to come away with the right result”.

Weiser scores the breakthrough goal

At the time of the second interruption, the game was still goalless. After the hosts’ initial push, the Blue-Whites had taken control of the tie; the only problem was that the crucial opportunity wasn’t presenting itself - centre-back Sebastian Langkamp gave his view on this period the game, “Rostock did well. It was difficult to create chances - but we need to improve our killer instinct and cut out our unnecessary mistakes.” After the change of ends things started going a bit better. Vladimir Darida hit the post shortly after the break, before Salomon Kalou almost gave Hertha the lead as he forced a good save from Rostock keeper Janis Blaswich.

Hertha eventually made the all-important break-through in the 86th minute after the unfortunate interruption, with the goal succeeding in putting the focus back on the football. Surging into the penalty area, Mitchell Weiser controlled the ball and kept his cool and he sent his powerful shot into the far corner to give Hertha the lead. FC Hansa then went on the offensive, but Hertha defended in numbers to keep them out. The Berliners then sealed the game as they counter attacked decisively in stoppage time. After winning the ball in midfield, new signing Mathew Leckie bore down on the Rostock goal before unselfishly passing the ball across to Ibisevic who had no problems finishing off the move. “Today was all about getting through to the next round” explained Michael Preetz. “Our Bundesliga season kicks off this weekend against VfB Stuttgart, and that’s going to be a whole new challenge for us”.