Hertha BSC has reached the round of 16 of the DFB Cup. We achieved a high and deserved win against Mainz 05. The crisis in Rheinhessen is now coming to a head.
There hasn’t been this much enthusiasm in the Berlin Olympic Stadium for a long time: Hertha BSC reached the round of 16 of the DFB Cup with a deserved 3-0 (1-0) against Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on Wednesday (November 1st, 2023) and gave the spectators a… a real spectacle.
A remarkable success for coach Pal Dardai’s second division team, which is getting better and better. While Mainz, who are once again disappointing across the board – still bottom of the Bundesliga without a win – are sliding deeper and deeper into crisis. Fabian Reese (45th + 3) and Haris Tabakovic (50th, 61st) scored the goals for the Berliners.
Zentner saves Mainz several times
Mainz tried to take control at the beginning. The Berliners initially looked for stability on the defensive. The guests had more possession of the ball, but no real opportunity to score. Hertha BSC had them after ten minutes.
After a counterattack, Fabian Reese passed in front of the Mainz goal, but Marten Winkler, who was running along, narrowly missed the ball. And five minutes later Winkler had the next chance to shoot. This time Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner parried the Berliner’s direct shot. Both teams As a result, they worked on each other, but without setting any particular accents.
Barreiro only hits the crossbar
After 28 minutes there was the next great opportunity: the ball fell to Leandro Barreiro’s feet in the penalty area, but the Mainz player only hit the crossbar of the Berlin goal from six meters.
Both teams tried to create more chances, but both sides lacked the precision to be successful. Berlin attacker Haris Tabakovic was also denied by Zentner from close range after 42 minutes.
Tabakovic puts the lid on it
And when everyone involved thought the half-time whistle would sound, referee Martin Jöllenbeck awarded a penalty. Mainz defender Maxim Leitsch clumsily fouled Florian Niederlechner in the penalty area, Resse confidently converted from the spot to make it 1-0 in stoppage time in the first half.
And as soon as the second half had begun, the Berliners were awarded their second penalty. Brajan Gruda received a high ball in the Mainz penalty area on his arm. Tabakovic converted cool to make it 2-0 for Hertha.
And just eleven minutes later, Tabakovic completed a Berlin counterattack with a header to make it 3-0. From this point onwards the game was decided in favor of Hertha BSC. The people of Mainz hung their heads and resigned themselves to their fate.