Victory against RWD Molenbeek
Pál Dárdai went with a 4-2-3-1 formation against RWD Molenbeek in the first friendly during our time at the training camp in Zell am See. Our head coach made three changes to the side that lost to BSC Young Boys a week ago. Toni Leistner replaced Filip Uremović at centre-back in what was his first appearance in a Hertha shirt. Deyovaisio Zeefuik came in for Jonjoe Kenny at right-back and Pascal Klemens was preferred to Veit Stange in defensive midfield.
Richter to Reese, then Reese to Richter
Fabian Reese had the first chance of the afternoon in Leogang, striking over the bar after a nice ball to him by Marten Winkler (5’). A few minutes later, our new signing found the back of the net with a sweetly timed volley from a Marco Richter cross (10’). The newly-promoted top-flight Belgian side found a quick response. Niklo Dailly latched on to Zeefuik’s attempted back-pass to goalkeeper Tjark Ernst and then rounded him to equalise (14’). Our young goalkeeper then impressed with a strong one-on-one save against Abner in the 27th minute, before Richter restored Hertha’s lead from a Reese assist a minute later (28’). Captain Richter tried his luck from a free-kick later on in the half, but was denied by goalkeeper Théo Defourny (38’).
11 changes for the second half
Hertha came out for the second half with a completely different XI. Derry Scherhant was the first substitute to get involved in the action, though Defourny pushed his effort wide for a corner (56’). Molenbeek stepped up the pressure and saw Mikaël Biron hit the outside of the post from the edge of the box via a free-kick (64’). Some committed Hertha defending denied the Belgians an equaliser from a double chance (66’). Robert Kwasigroch made a smart save from a long-distance shot with 15 minutes left to play. There was still time for another Hertha opportunity: Wilfried Kanga held up a long ball, then Bence Dárdai played Ibrahim Maza in behind, however his shot didn’t have enough behind it to trouble the Molenbeek goalkeeper (86’). The game therefore ended 2-1 to the Old Lady.
Hertha BSC: Ernst (46’ Kwasigroch) – Zeefuik (46’ Kenny), Leistner (46’ Gechter), Kempf (46’ Uremović), Dudziak (46’ Strasner) – M. Dárdai (46’ Kesik), Klemens (46’ Stange) – Winkler (46’ Scherhant), Richter (C) (46’ B. Dárdai), Reese (46’ Maza) – Niederlechner (46’ Kanga)
Goals: 0-1 Reese (10’), 1-1 Dailly (14’), 1-2 Richter (28’)
Referee: Arnes Talic
Yellow card: Kesik