Game ends all square after a crazy last few minutes

It was the hosts who made the better start to the game. Rune Jarstein was called into action early on when Roussillon’s shot from distance got Hertha’s number one at full stretch. The Norwegian was involved again, just a few minutes later, as he managed to stop Yannick Gerhardt from a few metres out. It wasn’t until after a quarter of an hour or so that the Hertha team seemed to relax into the game. The club from the capital got their first chance thanks to Salomon Kalou, on the 18-minute mark, the attacker’s shot went flying not too far over the bar. The rest of the half was characterised by a tough midfield battle. Despite the ‘Wolves’ having the majority of possession, they struggled to find any gaps in the Hertha defence. Both sides traded blows, but neither managed to make a breakthrough. The teams went into the changing room with the score all square at 0-0.

It was Hertha who looked sprightlier after the break. Wolfsburg were pushed back deep into their own half, but the Hertha side failed to get any clear chances. After 61 minutes, just as it seemed the game was starting to calm down, the deadlock was broken. Newcomer to the Hertha side, Dilrosun won the ball and marched it into the penalty area. The Dutchman kept a cool head and slid the ball masterfully into the bottom left corner of the net. The initial joy was, however, somewhat dampened when shortly afterwards an injured Jordan Torunarigha had to leave the field. Veteran Herthaner Fabian Lustenberger was called on as a replacement, whilst, simultaneously, Davie Selke also took to the field for what was his first Bundesliga appearance this season.  As the game drew to an end, it was Jarstein who became a key figure again. After 85 minutes, the goalie was at full stretch to deny Wolfsburg’s Roussillon. However, the drama was far from over. Just two minutes later Arne Maier was deemed to have fouled Maximilian Arnold just outside the box. The referee pointed for a free kick, before receiving information from the Video Assistant that the foul had actually occurred inside the box. The ref overturned his decision and pointed to the penalty spot. Yunus Malli’s powerful penalty kick ensured Jarstein had to pick the ball out the back of his net for the first time this Bundesliga season. As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Hertha charged up the field and were awarded a free kick not far outside the Wolfsburg box. Free-kick hero from the Schalke game, Ondrej Duda cheekily slid the ball under the Wolfsburg wall and into the back of the net. Hertha’s lead didn’t last more than 60 seconds though, as Admir Mehmedi scored for the hosts on the counter. A crazy end to a dramatic game!