Hertha BSC can still win. After four bankruptcies in a row at the beginning of the year, the Berliners celebrated an immensely important 4-1 win (1-1) against Borussia Mönchengladbach on the 20th match day of the Bundesliga.
The Berliner left the direct relegation places and are now on the relegation rank, one point ahead of VfB Stuttgart. Borussia failed to move up to the international places and remains in the middle of the table.
Nico Elvedi gave Gladbach the lead in the 17th minute. Jessic Ngankam (30th) and Marton Dardai turned the game for Hertha. In stoppage time, Derry Scherhant (90+1) and Dodi Lukebakio (90+6/penalty) increased the result.
“We showed a great away game for the first 30 minutes. Then such a decline is of course disappointing. That’s bitter.”, said Gladbach coach Daniel Farke. Hertha’s coach Sandro Schwarz was happy about one “Important victory. It’s also important that we send out signals in terms of motivation. We’re very happy with the three points, but we have to continue to raise our antennas for the long journey that we still have ahead of us.”
Hertha makes it too easy for Elvedi
After a stormy but harmless opening few minutes in Berlin, Borussia quickly took control of the game without creating any real chances to score. In the 17th minute, a standard brought the desired success. At a corner by Luca Netz, Elvedi surprisingly easily beat Suat Serdar and headed the ball unchallenged into the far corner.
Just a minute later, Jonas Hofmann almost made it 2-0. After a through ball from Lars Stindl, the national player was free, had already rounded Hertha goalkeeper Oliver Christensen, but then failed in front of the empty goal on Oliver Kempf’s long leg. Lucky for Hofmann: He was just offside.
Ngankam hits out of nowhere
As a result, Gladbach failed to convert his dominance into further chances. And that should pay off. Because in the 30th minute the equalizer fell out of nowhere. Tolga Cigerci released Marvin Plattenhardt on the left, who passed the ball sharply to the six-yard box. Ngankam just had to push in. “That’s unnecessary. We invited them there”said farke.
It was a different game from there. Now Hertha was closer to the second goal. In the 44th minute, Gladbach’s Ko Itakura saved Lucas Tousart after a corner on the line. In stoppage time, Florian Niederlechner had the Berlin lead on his head, but didn’t get the full ball.
Dream goal of Dardai
But then Dardai caught the ball seven minutes after the restart – and how. The birthday boy (21) took a cross pass from Cigerci from almost 25 meters and hammered the ball under the Gladbach goal. Goalkeeper Jonas Omlin just looked after the ball – 2:1 for Hertha.
“A wonderful day, my best birthday so far”Dardai said after the game of the sports show. “We are in a difficult situation. If we keep working so hard, we can hold the class.”
Anyone who had expected a Gladbach reaction after going behind was wrong. Surprisingly little came from Borussia. Borussia didn’t create more than half a chance through Hannes Wolf (60′). Although the guests had more game shares again, the Berliners didn’t allow any compelling chances.
Hertha is expanding the lead
Only in the final phase did the victory in Berlin come into danger again. First, a shot from distance by Joe Scally just missed the post (85′), then Christensen saved against a header from Marcus Thuram (86′). But Borussia couldn’t do more.
Instead, Hertha even struck twice: In the first minute of injury time, substitute Scherhant scored with a turning shot to make it 3-1. Five minutes later, Manu Koné Tousart fouled in the penalty area. Lukebakio, who was also substituted, converted safely.
Gladbach welcomes the record champions
On Matchday 21, Borussia Mönchengladbach will play FC Bayern Munich at home (Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 3:30 p.m.). Hertha BSC has to fight for points a day later in Dortmund (5.30 p.m.).