4-2 defeat in Elversberg
Pál Dárdai was without Marc Kempf for the penultimate away game of the season. He was replaced in the heart of the defence by Márton Dárdai, who had recovered from the illness that kept him out of the Hannover game. That was the only change to the starting XI, with Jeremy Dudziak and Michał Karbownik both not fit enough to return to the bench.
Elversberg take an early lead
Horst Steffen’s team began the brighter of the two sides and had a few early chances. Semih Salin cleared the bar (3’), Manuel Feil’s back-heel attempt from six yards out just went wide (4’) and then Hugo Vandermersch’s attempt was blocked (7’). Sahin’s corner was then headed in by Luca Schnellbacher to give the hosts a deserved lead (18’).
Hertha responded well to going behind. Firstly, Ibrahim Maza had a shot blocked (20’) and then Haris Tabaković’s header hit the post (25’). A few minutes later though, Fabian Reese’s header from a corner ended up in the back of the net after a deflection from SVE defender Florian Le Joncour (28’). The final notable moment of the first half saw Elversberg keeper Kristof parry a powerful shot from Reese to safety (44’).
End-to-end stuff in the second half
Hertha came close to taking the lead at the start of the second half, however Maza’s fine strike from distance only crashed off the woodwork (47’). Just as Hertha were on top, Schnellbacher grabbed his second of the game with a nice turn and finish (54’).
The visitors, just like in the first half, stepped things up after conceding. Tabaković’s volley was well saved by Kristof (60’), before the keeper denied him again a minute later from Reese’s cross. This time though, Palkó Dárdai was on hand to head in the rebound (61’). Frustratingly for Hertha, the home team responded with another goal of their own. Jannik Rochelt found Paul Wanner and he made no mistake in front of goal (65’).
The introduction of Derry Scherhant, Marten Winkler and Florian Niederlechner late on couldn’t get Hertha back in the game, with all three having decent chances, the closest being Winkler’s effort that hit the bar in added time. However, just before that chance, Kevin Koffi had already sealed the win for Elversberg on Hertha’s first ever trip there (88’).
Hertha’s next game is at home to 1. FC Kaiserslautern next Saturday (11/5/24, 13:00 CEST).
Striker Haris Tabaković commented after the game: “We didn’t take our chances up front and their goals were too soft. We had enough chances to win 5-4, but it still wasn’t good enough.”
SV Elversberg: Kristof – Vandermersch, Pinckert, Le Joncour, Neubauer – Sahin (68’ Jacobsen), Fellhauer – Feil (76’ Boyamba), Wanner (84’ Koffi), Rochelt – Schnellbacher (C) (68’ Martinović)
Hertha BSC: Ernst – Kenny, Leistner (C), M. Dárdai, Zeefuik – Klemens (66’ Hussein), Bouchalakis (83’ Niederlechner) – P. Dárdai (73’ Scherhant), Maza (73’ Winkler), Reese – Tabaković
Goals: 1-0 Schnellbacher (18’), 1-1 Le Joncour (28’, OG), 2-1 Schnellbacher (54’), 2-2 P. Dárdai (62'), 3-2 Wanner (65’), 4-2 Koffi (88’)
Referee: Florian Lechner
Yellow cards: Boyamba, Koffi – Winkler
Attendance: 9,502