Fantastic five in Cottbus!
Wearing the new 2022/23 away kit for the first time against Energie Cottbus, our Herthaner entered the pitch with the Berlin bear on their sleeves as a nod to the city we call home. Still missing were our international players who only returned to training at the start of the week. New signing Ivan Šunjić also missed out, as did the injured Kélian Nsona (knee).
Head coach Sandro Schwarz named Rune Jarstein as his starting goalkeeper with Vladimír Darida captaining the side in a 4-3-3 formation. Hertha took the initiative with the lions’ share of possession, though the Regionalliga side posed a threat of their own too. 4,912 fans watched on as both sides had their chances. The hosts hit the side-netting with an early effort that deflected off a Hertha defender and wide (11’) before testing our defence on a few further occasions. At the other end, Marco Richter and Maximilian Mittelstädt both had chances but they shot over the bar and straight at goalkeeper Elias Bethke respectively (19’, 20’). The middle stages of the first-half were played mostly between the two penalty areas with the majority of the action taking place in midfield. Both teams then looked to get on the front foot once more with Richter striking the crossbar, though he was later flagged offside (36’). The ball did find the back of the net on the stroke of half-time, though. Marc Kempf, Richter and Maxi Mittelstädt combined well to work the ball into the box where Davie Selke volleyed home from close-range (45’). 1-0 at the break!
A brace in the blink of an eye
The second half began with plenty of fresh legs as Schwarz made ten changes; only Linus Gechter kept his place in the side. The changes soon paid off as Myziane Maolida found Luca Wollschläger with a wonderful pass. Our number 24 took it round the goalkeeper and slotted home (59’). Just two minutes later, Wollschläger made his own luck as he forced the Cottbus defence into an error, latching onto the ball and firing home his second in quick succession (61’). Dennis Slamar soon pulled the hosts back within two with a header at the other end (67’). Our lads weren't to be deterred, though. Quite the opposite, in fact, as Deyo Zeefuik went charging through the midfield to set up a two-on-one situation in the opposition penalty area. He laid it off to Myziane for a tap-in (76’). The goals kept flowing as Myziane bore down on goal, cutting in from the left and whipping a delicious effort into the corner of the net (81’). 5-1, and a fantastic performance before the squad heads to England to continue preseason!
FC Energie Cottbus: Bethke – Hasse, Slamar, Hildebrandt, Borgmann (C) – Milde, Kujovic, Hofmann, Eisenhuth – Geisler, Anapak
Hertha BSC: Jarstein (46' Ernst) – Kenny (46' Eitschberger), Gechter, Kempf (46' Torunarigha), Ullrich (46' Plattenhardt (C)) – Darida (C) (46' Zeefuik), Kesik (46' Tousart), Serdar (46' Prince) – Richter (46' Lukébakio), Selke, (46' Wollschläger), Mittelstädt (46' Myziane)
Goals: 0-1 Selke (45'), 0-2 Wollschläger (59'), 0-3 Wollschläger (61'), 1-3 Slamar (67'), 1-4 Myziane (76'), 1-5 Myziane (81')
Referee: Richard Hempel
Attendance: 4,912