Hertha’s unbeaten run comes to an end at Wiesbaden

In Hertha’s first away game of the year, head coach Pál Dárdai made three changes to the side which started last week’s draw with Düsseldorf. Hertha dominated possession in the opening stages of a combative affair, but it was the hosts who took the lead in the 24th minute as Franko Kovačević seized upon a rebound after Tjark Ernst had saved an effort from distance. Despite chances for Barkok and Kempf, Hertha were unable to find a goal in the first half and went into the break trailing 1-0.

Marten Winkler replaced Deyovaisio Zeefuik at half time, and Hertha made a bright start to the second period, but striker Haris Tabaković was unable to find the back of the net from two opportunities in the opening five minutes of the half. Wiesbaden took full advantage, extending their lead through Kovačević. Prevljak and Palkó Dárdai entered the fray on 58 minutes looking to inspire a reaction, and Jonjoe Kenny reduced the deficit just 60 seconds later with an eye-catching effort from the edge of the area. Prevljak had a glorious opportunity to level the game shortly after the hour mark, but his effort was straight at Wiesbaden ‘keeper Florian Stritzel. In the end, the equaliser never came, as Thijmen Goppel restored the home side’s two-goal cushion with 18 minutes to play, and the side from Hesse saw out the final quarter of an hour to inflict on Hertha a first defeat in eleven competitive games. Speaking after the game, captain Toni Leistner told herthabsc.com: "That was nowhere near enough from us. We knew that Wiesbaden have a very compact shape and counter extremely well. That’s how all three of the goals we conceded came about. We should have played better."

Hertha will next be in action on Wednesday (31st January, 20:45 CET), facing Kaiserslautern in the DFB-Pokal quarter finals at a sold-out Olympiastadion.

SV Wehen Wiesbaden: Stritzel – Carstens, Mathisen (C), Vukotic – Goppel (Kade 88’), Jacobsen, Heußer (Taffertshofer 88’), L. Günther (Mockenhaupt 66’) – Bätzner (Froese 87’), Kovačević (Lee 72’) – Prtajin

Hertha BSC: Ernst – Kenny, Leistner (C), Kempf, Karbownik – M. Dárdái, Bouchalakis (Hussein 70’) – Zeefuik (Winkler 46’), Barkok (P.Dárdai 57’), Scherhant (Prevljak 57’) – Tabaković

Goals: 1-0 Kovačević (24’), 2-0 Kovačević (53’), 2-1 Kenny (59’), 3-1 Goppel (72’)

Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger

Yellow cards: Leistner, Tabaković

Attendance: 10,454