Hertha come out on top after penalty drama!
Pál Dárdai made one change to the team that started in the 5-1 win over SV Elversberg at the weekend, with Michał Karbownik coming into the side in place of Marc Kempf.
Reese fires Hertha in front before HSV turnaround
Hertha looked threatening in the opening stages and their efforts paid off in the 21st minute. Fabi picked up the ball on the left wing and played it through to Florian Niederlechner, whose low cross took deflections off Haris Tabaković and HSV keeper Raab. Reese sprinted into the box and hit the post with his first attempt, before slotting the rebound home. It didn’t take long for HSV to respond, however, as Immanuel Pherai’s shot from outside the box found the back of the net via the post (31’). The visitors went one better shortly before the break, with László Bénes poking home from short range to make it 2-1 (43’).
Last-gasp equaliser!
Hertha improved as the second half progressed and started to put HSV under real pressure. After a flurry of good opportunities in the closing stages, Reese once again found himself in possession down the left. This time, he danced through the Hamburg midfield and tried his luck from 18 yards out. His shot flew into the bottom corner and sent the game to extra time (90’).
Hertha leave it late – again!
HSV took the lead again in added time, as substitute Ransdorf Königsdörffer got on the end of a Robert Glatzel cross and fired home to make it 3-2 (102’). Hertha continued to get forward, though, and had a number of promising chances. As the game slowly drew to a close, another moment of brilliance from Reese made the difference. In the 120th minute, Hertha’s number 11 whipped a fantastic ball towards the back post, where Jonjoe Kenny was waiting to bundle it over the line and send the home fans wild!
The first seven penalty takers held their nerve, before Tjark Ernst denied Königsdörffer to give Reese the opportunity to send the Blue-Whites into the quarters. He stepped up and fired the ball under Raab to complete an incredible turnaround for Hertha! The Blue-Whites will find out their quarter-final opponents on Sunday.
Hertha BSC: Ernst – Kenny, Gechter (23' Leistner), M. Dárdai, Karbownik – Klemens, Zeefuik (61' Hussein) – Scherhant (45' Christensen), Reese (C) – Niederlechner (80' Jindaoui) – Tabaković (61' Prevljak)
Hamburger SV: Raab – Mikelbrencis (98' Krahn), Hadžikadunić, Schonlau (61' Ramos), Muheim – Pherai (98' Oliveira), Meffert, Bénes – Jatta (72' Königsdörffer), Németh (72' Glatzel), Öztunali
Goals: 1-0 Reese (21'), 1-1 Pherai (31'), 1-2 Benes (43'), 2-2 Reese (90'), 2-3 Königsdörffer (102'), 3-3 Kenny (120')
Penalties: 1-0 Prevljak, 1-1 Bénes, 2-1 Klemens, 2-2 Muheim, 3-2 Jindaoui, 3-3 Glatzel, 4-3 Kenny, 5-3 Reese
Referee: Sascha Stegemann
Yellow cards: Karbownik, Scherhant, Niederlechner, Kenny – Pherai, Jatta, Meffert, Glatzel
Attendance: 58,946