Mixed feelings

It was simply too good to be true – on the 91st minute it looked like history was repeating itself: free-kick, 18 metres out, just to the left of the goal – Ondrej Duda steps up and fires the ball low underneath the jumping Wolfsburg wall – 2-1 Hertha. Just two weeks earlier, on Macthday 2, Duda scored from the exact same position against FC Schalke, that time putting the ball into the top corner. However, on Saturday, It was Wolfsburg who had the last word. Almost immediately after Hertha took the lead, Admir Mehmedi levelled the scores, leaving the Hertha boys to travel back to Berlin with mixed feelings.

 During the post-match press conference Pál Dárdai attempted to put the record straight, however ended up virtually contradicting himself: “We are happy with the point,” commented the coach before adding “when you have the lead twice in an away game, you really should be taking all three points”. The Hungarian hit the nail on the head, reflecting exactly what all Hertha fans were feeling. 25,000 spectators were in the stadium to witness a courageous performance from Hertha. However, the end result felt like a loss and saw squad only take one point back to Berlin.

A spectacle for the fans

Wolfsburg coach Bruno Labbadia commented: “I have great respect for the way Hertha played and how difficult they made it for us; the game was a spectacle for the fans”. The first half saw the ‘Wolves’ have more of the ball, but they failed to beat in-form Hertha number one Rune Jarstein. The second half saw both teams exchange blows. It was Hertha who looked sprightlier after the break and on the 60-minute mark Javairo Dilrosun gave Hertha a 1-0 lead. The 20-year-old Dutchman had already proved his quality against Schalke, however, it was in ‘Car city’ that Dilrosun really showed his worth. “I just fired the ball at the bottom corner,” summed up Dilrosun. Wolfsburg got the equaliser following a controversial penalty and then stoppage-time goals from Duda and Mehmedi made for a dramatic end to a spectacular game in the Volkswagen Arena.

High Praise for the Number 10

Despite the late equaliser, Dárdai had warm words for his players, especially Duda: “Congratulations go to Ondrej for his goal; it was a very intelligent free kick. There is a reason why he is our ‘number 10’. He is a clever player who has made a great start to the season,” commented Dárdai on the Slovakian who picked up his third Bundesliga goal this season. Duda is, without a doubt, the man of the moment in the Hertha squad. Newcomer Dilrosun is also starting to make a name for himself with one assist and one goal from two games. “I’m very happy to have played the full game today and to have got a goal. Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep this good form up”. Hertha have the chance to build on their positive start to the season when the welcome Borussia Mönchengladbach to the Olympiastadion next Saturday (22/09/18, kick off 15.30).