Wins against West Brom and Watford U23s

At West Bromwich Albion’s training ground on Saturday morning, Sandro Schwarz’s side took on the West Brom and Watford U23s. The first 45 minute game was against the hosts and BSC controlled it from the very beginning. With less than 60 seconds on the clock, Loucas Tousart tested the opposition goalkeeper from just outside the 18-yard-box (1’). Shortly afterwards, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp found Krzysztof Piątek in the middle, but the attacker just missed the outside of the post (11’). Less than a minute later, Tousart had another effort from distance (12’). Shortly afterwards, Linus Gechter got on the end of a Vladimir Darida cross, but he couldn’t quite hit the target (16’). Piątek then headed wide from a Peter Pekarík cross (22’) and the two combined again just a minute later, but the keeper blocked the Slovakian’s shot (23’). Piątek then hit the bar after he was picked out by Darida (24’). The West Brom U23’s were under constant pressure, with Ekkelenkamp heading two efforts wide around the half hour mark (27’, 33’). Fredrik Bjørkan also had an attempt on goal, but the opposition keeper kept it out (36’). Derry Scherhant looked to have finally given Hertha the lead, but his effort was ruled out for offside (42’). Shortly afterwards, however, Hertha eventually took the lead when a West Brom defender turned it into his own goal after a sharp Scherhant cross (43’).

Hertha then took on the Watford U23s in another 45 minute test. The Old Lady again got off to a great start, when a Darida free-kick from the left hand side just sailed past the far post (2’). Scherhant  gave Hertha the lead with a fine curling effort from around 16 yards out (8’). After around an hour, Schwarz brought on Luca Wollschläger and Lukas Ullrich for Tousart and Piątek. Hertha then doubled their lead, when Ekkelenkamp tapped in a rebound from close range from a Julian Eitschberger shot (21’). Around ten minutes later, Eitschberger hit the post before testing the Watford keeper (30‘, 33‘). Eitschberger eventually got his reward when he held his nerve inside the penalty area to slot it home (37’). Hertha then made it 4-0 with their best move of the game. Eitschberger passed to Darida, who found Scherhant out wide, who then played it to Wollschläger in the middle. With his back to goal, our number 24 laid it back to Darida, who rounded off the move with a tidy finish. Hertha will now face the West Bromich Albion first team later in the afternoon (16:00 CEST).

Coach Hendrik Vieth conducted a session with Maximilian Mittelstädt, Márton Dárdai and Filip Uremović before the game.

Hertha BSC Vs. West Brom: Kwasigroch – Pekarík, Gechter, Zeefuik, Bjørkan – Eitschberger, Ekkelenkamp, Tousart, Darida, Scherhant – Piątek

Goals: 0-1 Own goal (43')

Hertha BSC Vs. Watford: Ernst – Pekarík, Gechter, Zeefuik, Bjørkan – Eitschberger, Ekkelenkamp, Tousart (16' Ullrich), Darida, Scherhant – Piątek (16' Wollschläger)

Goals: 0-1 Scherhant (8'), 0-2 Ekkelenkamp (21'), 0-3 Eitschberger (37'), 0-4 Darida (45')