Teams | December 17, 2017 at 10:39 PM

An instant hit – Mathew Leckie

Super Selke seals sensational win in Leipzig

Two goals from Davie Selke and Salomon Kalou helped Hertha end 2017 with a terrific 3-2 win away from home against last season's runners-up RB Leipzig.
Berlin- „I will definitely celebrate if I score against Leipzig,” said Davie Selke ahead of his first return to his former employers. He kept his word, twice. 
Selke’s brace, either side of a Salomon Kalou header to give Hertha a 2-0 lead at half time, was one of many impressive stories from the Red Bull Arena on Sunday, as Pal Dardai’s side were clinical and resolute to a man following the dismissal of Jordan Torunarigha after ten minutes. 
Willi Orban and Marcel Halstenberg made it a tense finish, but Hertha held on to extend their unbeaten away record to five in the final game before the winter break.

Berlin- "I will definitely celebrate if I score against Leipzig," said Davie Selke ahead of his first return to his former employers. He kept his word, twice. 

Selke’s brace, either side of a Salomon Kalou header to give Hertha a 2-0 lead at half time, was one of many impressive stories from the Red Bull Arena on Sunday, as Pal Dardai’s side were clinical and resolute to a man following the dismissal of Jordan Torunarigha after ten minutes. 

Willi Orban and Marcel Halstenberg made it a tense finish, but Hertha held on to extend their unbeaten away record to five in the final game before the winter break.

Pal Dardai set his side up to start 4-2-3-1 in Leipzig, but neither Maxi Mittelstädt or Mathew Leckie were available after picking up late illnesses.

With Karim Rekik and Mitchell Weiser already unavailable through injury, Alex Esswein and Jordan Torunarigha were the ones to come into the side following the 3-1 win over Hannover 96 in midweek. 

Those in the stands for Hertha watching on in the early exchanges would have been expecting a long evening, as those in  Blue and White had to be alert to clear some early danger from the hosts. 
The mood quickly lifted, as Selke swiveled brilliantly to slam Hertha into the lead from Pekarik’s low cross with just five minutes on the clock, before wheeling away towards the visiting bench with his trademark jubilation.
An action-packed opening period was confirmed when Jordan Torunarigha was sent off for fouling Timo Werner on the edge of the Hertha box. A long 80 minutes once again looked on the cards.
Cue Salomon Kalou, who scored for a third consecutive Bundesliga game for the first time in his career by netting his fourth goal in seven days, as he leapt highest to power home a header from a right-wing free kick just after the half hour mark.  
Two-nil leads can be dangerous at the best of times, but with ten men against last season’s runners-up there was still work to be done. Selke set to work, tormenting his ex-teammates from the halfway line as Hertha looked to counter.
Arne Maier almost turned home Selke’s cross, before the latter punished Die Roten Bullen again from the resulting corner, volleying home to extend his side’s advantage yet further.
The hat-trick would have put the game beyond all doubt, but the post denied the summer signing an even more perfect return to Leipzig minutes later.
Willi Orban headed Leipzig a lifeline, before Jarstein pulled off two crucial blocks to leave the hosts running out of time. 
Marcel Halstenberg flicked home another consolation in injury time, but Dardai’s boys held on to end the year on the ultimate high with a fantastic away win.

Those in the stands for Hertha watching on in the early exchanges would have been expecting a long evening, as those in  Blue and White had to be alert to clear some early danger from the hosts. 

The mood quickly lifted, as Selke swiveled brilliantly to slam Hertha into the lead from Pekarik’s low cross with just five minutes on the clock, before wheeling away towards the visiting bench with his trademark jubilation.

An action-packed opening period was confirmed when Jordan Torunarigha was sent off for fouling Timo Werner on the edge of the Hertha box. A long 80 minutes once again looked on the cards.

Cue Salomon Kalou, who scored for a third consecutive Bundesliga game for the first time in his career by netting his fourth goal in seven days, as he leapt highest to power home a header from a right-wing free kick just after the half hour mark.  

Two-nil leads can be dangerous at the best of times, but with ten men against last season’s runners-up there was still work to be done. Selke set to work, tormenting his ex-teammates from the halfway line as Hertha looked to counter.

Arne Maier almost turned home Selke’s cross, before the latter punished Die Roten Bullen again from the resulting corner, volleying home to extend his side’s advantage yet further.

The hat-trick would have put the game beyond all doubt, but the post denied the summer signing an even more perfect return to Leipzig minutes later.

Willi Orban headed Leipzig a lifeline, before Jarstein pulled off two crucial blocks to leave the hosts running out of time. 

Marcel Halstenberg flicked home another consolation in injury time, but Dardai’s boys held on to end the year on the ultimate high with a fantastic away win.

Hertha end the Hinrunde on 24 points in 10th place in the Bundesliga table, and will now not play again until January.

When the Bundesliga resumes for Matchday 18 in 2018, Pal Dardai’s men will face a trip to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday 13 January before a Friday night clash at home to Borussia Dortmund to kick off Matchday 19 six days later.

by Hertha BSC