Hertha BSC won in the 2nd Bundesliga against 1. FC Nürnberg. Josip Brekalo scored twice.
In the 2-1 win in the Olympic Stadium, the Croatian scored for Berlin in the 20th and 88th minutes, while Tom Baack (45th + 1) was able to equalize for Nuremberg.
Hertha BSC remains in seventh place in the table with 37 points, while Nuremberg slipped to ninth place with 30 points. Hertha thus ended its crisis in results, but with an eight-point deficit in third place, it will probably no longer be able to intervene in the promotion race.
Those responsible at Hertha BSC had written that off last week anyway – but at least coach Stefan Leitl’s team showed the required reaction after the 5-2 defeat in Paderborn. Before the duel with Nuremberg there had only been one win in nine games.
Klose is struggling, Leitl and Brekalo are happy
“Because of the second one, we deserved a draw. We’ve often scored at the end. That must be annoying for us“, said FCN coach Miroslav Klose to the Sportschau. His colleague Stefan Leitl from Hertha BSC explained: “I’m happy for my boys that they showed a confident performance.” Because he called victory “earned”.
“I’m very happy that we won and that I showed a reaction. And I’m happy that I was able to help the team with my two goals. That’s very important for me.”said Brekalo to the sports show.
Brekalo puts Hertha in the lead
The Berliners had the first chance. A Nuremberg bad pass landed 25 meters centrally in front of the goal to Fabian Reese – and he then simply took a shot. The ball flew just past the left post.
Hertha remained the better team, Nuremberg was primarily occupied in defense. It happened in the 20th minute. Jeremy Dudziak drove the ball forward down the left side and then played it beautifully to Brekalo, who fired it hard and flat past FCN goalkeeper Jan Reichert into the far corner.
Hertha stayed on the trigger, Nuremberg retreated far back, barely appeared in front and otherwise followed the action. This ensured that the fans did not see a good football game. The Franks did well on defense and hardly allowed anything to happen.
Nuremberg equalizer out of nowhere
The Nuremberg equalizer came out of the blue. Justin von der Hitz hit a nice cross from the right side, Baack was there with his head. It was the guests’ first chance to score worth mentioning, which is what you would call efficient. The score went into the break 1-1, which was very flattering for Nuremberg.
“Club” comes out of the half-time break improved
The lead gave Nuremberg self-confidence. Suddenly the “club” played along cheerfully and the game was evenly balanced. However, it wasn’t an open exchange of blows between the two teams – most of it took place between the two penalty areas. In short: the game was bubbling along.
Nuremberg had their first half-decent chance after about an hour when Rabby Nzingoula shot towards the goal from 16 meters after some great interplay, but then narrowly missed.
Then Berlin also registered at the front again. Luca Schuler appeared in front after a long ball and then went down on the edge of the penalty area in a duel with Luka Lochoshvili. Referee Patrick Alt didn’t decide on a penalty, and the VAR had nothing against it either.
Substitute Schuler then had the next chance when he tested Reichert with a powerful shot from ten meters from the right side, but he deflected the ball strongly. A little later, Berlin’s Linus Gechter headed the ball just over the goal after a free kick cross from Paul Seguin.
Brekalo puts together a double pack
Five minutes before the end, both teams suddenly wanted to know it again. First Nuremberg’s Mohamed Alì Zoma failed from close range to Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, on the other hand Sebastian Grønning put the ball next to the goal from nine meters.
The fact that a goal was scored in the poor game was still something of a miracle. Brekalo dribbled into the penalty area from the left, shot from 14 meters and the ball hit the bottom right.
Hertha in Münster, Nuremberg against Düsseldorf
Hertha will be guests at Preußen Münster on the next matchday on Sunday afternoon (1:30 p.m.). Nuremberg welcomes Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.).
