Mission accomplished: Comprehensive victory in Jena
Pál Dárdai made a few changes to the team before the first-round DFB-Pokal encounter against Jena. Tjark Ernst started in net, with Márton Dárdai coming in for Marc Kempf at centre-back. As Suat Serdar was named in the starting XI for the first time this season, Haris Tabaković made his debut, coming in for the injured Florian Niederlechner.
From the get-go, Hertha looked to justify their position as favourites. It only took six minutes for them to do so, as Palkó Dárdai got on the end of an immaculate Jeremy Dudziak cross to make it 1-0. Dudziak and Palkó would link up once again in the 31st minute, but the latter’s shot sailed over on this occasion. Following some disciplined defence from Hertha, we went into the break with a slender lead, but could sense that another goal was coming.
Three goals after the break
And a goal did come - three of them, in fact. The first came shortly after the interval, with Reese hurling the ball into the box. Tabaković was underneath it and managed to steer it into the net with an overhead kick. Richter then grabbed his first from seven yards out, before finishing off a great team move to make it 4-0, putting the Old Lady firmly in the driving seat. Filip Uremović got our fifth seven minutes later.
At the other end of the pitch, the visitors were a whisker away from a consolation goal, with efforts clattering against the post, then the crossbar in the space of a few seconds. The rest of the game was comfortable for Hertha, as we secured our passage into the next round, with the draw due to take place on 1st October.
Carl Zeiss Jena: Kunz – Gipson, Halili, Strietzel (c), Hoppe (72’ - Kleeschätzky) – Hehne, Schau – Richter (60’ - Muiomo), Lämmel, Endres (60’ - Dahlke) – Verkamp (46’ - Zank)
Hertha BSC: Ernst – Kenny, Leistner (57’ - Uremović), M. Dárdai (46‘ - Gechter), Dudziak – Serdar (57’ - Stange), Klemens – P. Dárdai, Richter (C) (70‘ - B. Dárdai), Reese – Tabaković (70’ - Prevljak)
Goals: 0-1 P. Dárdai (6’), 0-2 Tabaković (47’), 0-3 Richter (49.), 0-4 Richter (52’), 0-5 Uremović (59’)
Yellow cards: Hehne – Gechter
Attendance: 11,800 (sold out)
Match reaction
Haris Tabaković : “I’m still getting used to the club and the city, but I feel like I’m settling in more and more every day. I’m buzzing - all I want to do is play games, score goals, and help the team out.”