Stevan Jovetić faces off against Wataru Endō.
First team | December 5, 2021, 05:30 PM

2-2 from 2-0 down – a point won in Stuttgart!

In his first game as Hertha head coach, Tayfun Korkut made four changes from our last game. Captain Dedryck Boyata returned after his suspension, as well as Vladimír Darida, making his 150th Bundesliga appearance for the “Old Lady”, Myziane Maolida and Stevan Jovetić. Niklas Stark, Maximilian Mittelstädt und Jurgen Ekkelenkamp all started on the bench, whilst Suat Serdar was out with a cold. Our number 8 missed out along with Lucas Tousart, who tested positive for Covid-19 despite being vaccinated and was separated from the squad as a result.

Good morale: Jovetić hits back against two quick-fire Stuttgart goals

In a near-empty Mercedes-Benz Arena, our Blue-Whites started well and had the first shot on goal through Ishak Belfodil. The Algerian was fed by Maolida after a mazy run, and his attempt was parried away by VfB goalkeeper Müller (4’). Our lads were able to prevent any real Stuttgart chances through the sturdy 4-4-2 formation, but conceded on the counter after a quarter of an hour – Omar Marmoush ran through the heart of the defence and kept cool to finish past Alexander Schwolow for 1-0. Another found its way in just four minutes later, as Philipp Förster found space in midfield and fired into the bottom corner for the Baden-Württemberg side’s second (19’). Schwolow prevented Marmoush doing further damage (22’), before Hertha started to rebuild. Another combination between Maolida to Belfodil was underhit by the striker, before Jovetić headed over on the stretch (29’, 31’). The next attempt from the away side landed in the net – Belfodil’s curling effort went in off the post, but VAR disallowed it for Darida standing in the goalkeeper’s eye-line in an offside position (34’). The next one did count though: Jovetić curled a brilliant effort in from the edge of the box five minutes before half time to half the deficit at the break.

Photo gallery: VfB Stuttgart vs. Hertha BSC

‘Jove’ brings Hertha level

Tayfun Korkut’s side started the second half well, with Darida’s shot well-blocked by the defence and Maolida’s shot being well-parried by Müller (54’, 56’). The ball then found its way into the Hertha net, but this time it was Stuttgart’s turn to have a goal ruled out, as Marmoush was just offside before he finished off (66’). Korkut then made a set of changes, with Ekkelenkamp, Stark and Prince Boateng all coming on for fresh legs in the closing stages. A powerful free-kick from our number 19 was saved well by Müller (74’), before the equaliser finally came, again through the Montenegro international: Marvin Plattenhardt’s fine cross found Belfodil, who did brilliantly to flick the ball into the path of Jovetić to stab home for 2-2 (76’)! Both teams looked for a winner in the closing stages, but there was no way through for either side, and Hertha came out of a turbulent week with a well-earned point.

 

VfB Stuttgart: Müller; Mavropanos, Anton, Ito; Sosa, Massimo (46‘ Tibidi), Mangala (75‘ Karazor), Endo (C), Förster, Marmoush; Al Ghaddioui (63’ Silas)

Hertha BSC: Schwolow; Pekarík, Boyata (C), Torunarigha (72‘ Stark), Plattenhardt; Richter (72’ Prince), Ascacíbar, Darida, Myziane (63’ Ekkelenkamp); Belfodil (85’ Piątek), Jovetić

Goals: 1-0 Marmoush (15’), 2-0 Förster (19’), 2-1 Jovetić (40’), 2-2 Jovetić (76’)

Referee: Benjamin Brand

Yellow cards: Boateng

Attendance: 750

by Hertha BSC