Kalou brace helps Hertha sink Hannover

After fast starts against Frankfurt and Östersunds in the last two home games yielded just one draw, this was a performance that fully backed up another quick opening in front of the Blue and White fans. 

Davie Selke and Mitchell Weiser’s slick one-two almost saw the latter open the scoring, before Valentino Lazaro’s stinging drive was tipped over. 

The opener when it came was thanks to three pin-point touches. Lazaro rifled a pass from the left wings that was cushioned on the volley across the boy by Captain Peter Pekarik to give Salomon Kalou the simplest of headers at the back post. 

The goal was the Ivorian’s fifth in five Bundesliga games against Hannover. Number six followed half an hour later, when the forward was in the right place at the right time to smash home from a free kick. 

Hannover responded after the break, and Jarstein was forced into preserving the cushion with a couple of fine saves, most notable from point blank range with three Hannover players bearing down on goal. They did reduce arrears eventually, as Ilhas Bebou nodded home from a free kick. 

Hertha were quieter going forward, but Kalou almost completed the perfect hat-trick when his shot whistled over the bar after good work from Lazaro.

Three points were secured with seven minutes left on the clock, as substitute Jordan Torunarigha was on hand to nudge a header over the line from a corner – ensuring Hertha could celebrate a home win in front of the Ostkurve for the first time since October.