Draw to close out Europa League campaign

Debutant goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann saves a last-minute penalty to preserve a point as Dardai's already-eliminated side finished their Europa League group stage campain with a draw.

Berlin- You’ll never with anything with kids, as the old saying goes. And though Hertha only got a draw from their final Europa League Matchday, the youngest ever Hertha XI under Pal Dardai would fully deserved to have taken three points against Swedish side Östersunds in the Olympiastadion on Thursday.

After missing a series of good chances in both halves, Hertha ultimately had to rely on a goal from captain Peter Pekarik and a penalty save from debutant goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann to avoid defeat.

Maxi Mittelstädt was the only member of the starting XI to have also started Sunday’s Bundesliga game with Frankfurt, as Dardai rotated severely for the final group game.

Fabian Lustenberger, Jordan Torunarigha, Peter Pekarik, Niklas Stark, Alex Esswein, Ondrej Duda, Valentino Lazaro and Genki Haraguchi joined debutants Palko Dardai and Jonathan Klinsmann.

A young Hertha side, which featured a first start for Dardai’s son Palko and Jürgen Klinsmann’s son Jonathan, started brightly against already-qualified Östersunds in Berlin. Dardai especially looked lively, and the 18-year-old had his team’s three best chances in the opening half an hour. A terrific volley from 25 yards rattled the woodwork, before he twice saw low efforts from inside the area blocked in quick succession. Genki Haraguchi had the half’s other good opening, but he too was thwarted by Keita in the visiting goal after a rasping left foot effort.

The game hit a lull after the break, and Klinsmann was forced into action before the hour, tipping a curling shot from a tight angle around the post. From the resulting corner, however, he was beaten, as Papagiannopoulos squeezed the ball beyong Klinsmann thanks to a small deflection from Niklas Stark.

The response was instant and ideal. Dardai split the midfield with a pass to Mittelstädt on the left and the youngsters cross was also pinpoint, giving captain for the night Pekarik the easiest of finishes from six yards out.

Mitchell Weiser’s introduction added some more impetus up front as Hertha went after a winner, and the left back worked Keita with attempts twice as the clock ticked down.

There was to be one more piece of drama, though, as Östersunds were handed a contentious penalty kick in the last few minutes as Mittelstädt was adjudged to have tripped his man in the area.

Klinsmann made himself an instant hero with the Ostkurve fans behind the goal, tipping away the resultant spot kick to preserve a point for his team.

A young Hertha side, which featured a first start for Dardai’s son Palko and Jürgen Klinsmann’s son Jonathan, started brightly against already-qualified Östersunds in Berlin. Dardai especially looked lively, and the 18-year-old had his team’s three best chances in the opening half an hour.

A terrific volley from 25 yards rattled the woodwork, before he twice saw low efforts from inside the area blocked in quick succession.

Genki Haraguchi had the half’s other good opening, but he too was thwarted by Keita in the visiting goal after a rasping left foot effort.

The game hit a lull after the break, and Klinsmann was forced into action before the hour, tipping a curling shot from a tight angle around the post.

From the resulting corner, however, he was beaten, as Papagiannopoulos squeezed the ball beyong Klinsmann thanks to a small deflection from Niklas Stark.

The response was instant and ideal. Dardai split the midfield with a pass to Mittelstädt on the left and the youngsters cross was also pinpoint, giving captain for the night Pekarik the easiest of finishes from six yards out.

Mitchell Weiser’s introduction added some more impetus up front as Hertha went after a winner, and the left back worked Keita with attempts twice as the clock ticked down.

There was to be one more piece of drama, though, as Östersunds were handed a contentious penalty kick in the last few minutes as Mittelstädt was adjudged to have tripped his man in the area. Klinsmann made himself an instant hero with the Ostkurve fans behind the goal, tipping away the resultant spot kick to preserve a point for his team.

The draw sees Hertha finish bottom of Group J with five points (W1 D2 L3) from six games. Dardai and the boys will only play Bundesliga football between now and next May, with the first of those matches coming away at Augsburg on Sunday at 18:00 CET.

The draw sees Hertha finish bottom of Group J with five points (W1 D2 L3) from six games.

Dardai and the boys will only play Bundesliga football between now and next May, with the first of those matches coming away at Augsburg on Sunday at 18:00 CET.