Hertha BSC won a memorable exchange of blows against Hamburger SV 5-3 on penalties and is in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup competition. The match winner for Berlin was Fabian Reese.
On a wild cup evening, Hertha BSC reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for the first time since 2016 and can dream of the final in their own stadium.
Hertha’s match winner: Ernst saves, Reese scores
The outstanding Fabian Reese scored the decisive penalty for Hertha in front of almost 60,000 spectators – the script for this game could not have been written better from Berlin’s perspective. Previously, Hertha’s goalkeeper Tjark Ernst paved the way when he saved Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer’s fourth penalty.
“We invested a lot and always put pressure on,” said Hertha coach Pal Dardai to the Sportschau, who also highlighted match winner Reese, “but not just him, the whole team showed a good run and also duel leadership.”
Caro Labes, Sportschau, December 6th, 2023 11:54 p.m
Hamburg’s Sebastian Schonlau said with disappointment: “Of course it hurts, but we have ourselves to blame for it.”
Caroline Labes, Sportschau, December 7th, 2023 12:01 a.m
After 120 minutes the score was 3:3 (2:2, 1:2). Twice Hamburger SV seemed sure to be on the road to victory, twice Fabian Reese slowed down their second division rivals – with his goal in the 90th minute to make it 2-2, and also with great preparatory work for Jonjoe Kenny’s goal in the 120th. Minute to 3:3. Immanuel Pherai (31st), Laszlo Benes (43rd) and Königsdörffer (102nd) scored for HSV.
Berlin tour by Reese
Hertha took the lead with the first really good chance to score, of course through Fabian Reese. The Berlin offensive player initiated an attack and a little later got the ball again in the penalty area. First he hit the right post and then safely used the rebound.
It didn’t take long for HSV to respond. Ten minutes after Berlin took the lead, Pherai got the ball in a central position and took precise measurements to make it 1-1. And HSV continued in this biting, sharp duel, but in which everything was always fair.
Pherai with a well-placed shot into the corner
The Hamburg team took advantage of the upswing before the break. Pherai opened up to Levin Öztunali on the left side, who played the ball into the middle where Benes just had to press in. It was not undeserved that Hamburg went into the break with the lead.
It remained entertaining in the second round too, an open exchange of blows that could have tipped in one direction or the other earlier.
Internet star Nader El-Jindaoui
For the final spurt, Hertha coach Pal Dardai brought in internet star Nader El-Jindaoui, who made his professional debut. The offensive player, who is followed by millions of people online, came on as a substitute in the 80th minute. He would later make his big appearance when he confidently converted the third penalty in the shootout.
Hertha became stronger in the final phase and – driven by Fabian Reese, who was everywhere – threw everything forward in the final phase. And Reese’s tireless work was rewarded. Shortly before the end of regular time, Reese started dribbling, found the gap and actually scored to make it 2-2 – extra time.
Reese, always Reese
There the Hamburgers initially turned back onto the winning road. Oliveira hit a great diagonal ball to Robert Glatzel, who served goal scorer Königsdörffer perfectly in the middle (112′). But that shouldn’t be enough either.
And again Fabian Reese had his feet in the game. In the final minute of extra time, he hit a pass so accurately to Jonjoe Kenny that all he had to do was press in. Hertha had the better end of the penalty shootout and celebrated with the fans in cold Berlin shortly before midnight