Victory in Gelsenkirchen
Victory in Gelsenkirchen
On Sunday evening (02.09.18) Hertha won 2-0 against FC Schalke 04 to pick up three points and their first win in Gelsenkirchen for almost 14 years. Ondrej Duda got both goals.
Pál Dárdai made one change to his starting line-up after the previous week’s home win against 1. FC Nürnberg. Marko Grujic replaced the injured Marvin Plattenhardt, currently suffering from an injury to the adductors. Newcomer Grujic made his first start for Hertha in the midfield alongside Arne Maier. In contrast to the last two games, Dárdai chose to play four at the back instead of three. Jordan Torunarigha played at left back and Valentino Lazaro on the right.
The drama started early in the game when, after five minutes, Karim Rekik went down injured and Javairo Dilrosun replaced him, gaining his first Bundesliga appearance. Four minutes later came Hertha’s first chance as Ondrej Duda put the ball just past the Schalke post. Shortly afterwards, referee Sascha Stegemann reached to his earpiece as he was informed of a Marko Grujic hand ball in the box by the eagle-eyed video assistant. The referee pointed to the spot for a penalty to Schalke. Thankfully for the Hertha fans, Daniel Caligiuri put the ball wide. Moments later, Hertha were back on the attack. Dilrosun played a ball into Duda who fired the ball into the back of the net, putting Hertha in the lead. Following the goal the game calmed down somewhat, however, around the half-mark Schalke had two good chances. A Yevhen Konoplyanka shot went just wide and Rune Jarstein was called into action to stop a header from Breel Embolo. It was Hertha who had the last major chance of the half. After 34 minutes Saloman Kalou found himself in free space in the box. Unfortunately though he could only put the ball wide of Ralf Fährmann’s post.
After the break it was clear that Hertha’s main priority was the preservation of their lead and chances became rarer. However, after 70 minutes Hertha went close as Duda found Kalou out on the right wing. Kalou played a ball a dangerous ball into the box; unfortunately, it flew just passed the outstretched Ibisevic and Dilrosun. It wasn’t till late in the game that Schalke started to really threaten the Hertha goal. Amine Harit and Mark Uth both went close after 85 and 89 minutes respectively. In stoppage time Jarstein had to make a last second save to keep out Guido Burgstaller’s effort and then Uth’s deflection. Just afterwards the newly subbed on Dennis Jastrzembski found himself with ball in front of an empty Schalke goal. He was pulled down and fouled by Konoplyanka. The Schalke man was shown a red card and Duda coolly stepped up to take the free kick. Duda’s shot flew into the back of the net earning a well deserved 2-0 win for Hertha.
Hertha sit in third place on the Bundesliga table after having taken maximum points from their first two games. On the 15th September they travel to VfL Wolfsburg for their first game after the international break (kick off 15:30 CEST). Both teams have won all their games so far in the Bundesliga this season.