Hertha BSC won the duel of the disappointed. Düsseldorf should have taken a clear lead at the beginning – and was punished in the end: The Berliners decided the game in stoppage time.
Due to the 1-0 (0-0) on Saturday evening, Hertha remains eighth, Düsseldorf is in 13th place. Maurice Krattenmacher scored the goal of the evening in stoppage time (90th + 6).
“We can go into halftime with a two or three goal difference or even have to.”said Fortuna’s coach Markus beginning on Sky. “You can’t lose this game, you have to win it. Of course that hurts.”
Düsseldorf got off to a strong start, but missed numerous chances
In the first 20 minutes, Hertha BSC really floundered, Düsseldorf had numerous chances – and missed them all. Tim Oberdorf had a completely free header and was denied by goalkeeper Tjark Ernst (13′). Christian Rasmussen then flicked the ball just over the Hertha goal (17th), Danny Schmidt aimed just past the left (19th).
Düsseldorf’s Christian Rasmussen
Hertha then got more calm into the game, but only had their first better opportunity in the 39th minute when Mickaël Cuisance passed off for Luca Schuler, who hit the side netting.
Hertha gets going late – and punishes Düsseldorf
The second half didn’t get going for a long time – but then Hertha finally created several opportunities. Jón Thorsteinsson failed from just three meters to Fortuna keeper Florian Kastenmeier (69′). The Düsseldorf defenders saved several times on the last pass, and Hertha now pressed for the lead. Sebastian Grönning was particularly close, playing the ball into Kastenmeier’s arms from five out (75′). Fabian Reese had the chance from a half-right position and ten meters, but was also denied by Kastenmeier (79′).
Düsseldorf’s goalkeeper Florian Kastenmeier saves the shot from Berlin’s Jon Dagur Torsteinsson
While Düsseldorf should have taken a clear lead at the start, the 0-0 draw at this stage was flattering for Fortuna. Fortuna’s Emmanuel Iyoha almost made up for his team’s negligence in exploiting their chances in the early stages – but he fired past the goal from a half-left position (86′).
Emmanuel Iyoha from Fortuna Duesseldorf
The punch line of the game was provided by Maurice Krattenmacher, who hit the right corner from a distance in stoppage time (90th+6). “I saw that Fabi (Reese) cleared me well”said Krattenmacher on Sky. “The fact that I hit the ball so well was ideal.”
Hertha’s goalkeeper Ernst prevented Düsseldorf from responding in the last seconds when Jesper Daland tried to hit the goal with his heel (90th + 9th).
Hertha’s Mickael Cuisance and Düsseldorf’s Tim Breithaupt fight for the ball
Both teams are now challenged in the cup
Hertha has its next home game on Tuesday (6.30 p.m.) and will face SV Elversberg in the second main round of the DFB Cup. The 2nd Bundesliga continues at Dynamo Dresden on Saturday (1 p.m.).
Düsseldorf now plays at home twice: In the cup, Fortuna welcomes Bundesliga side SC Freiburg on Wednesday (8:45 p.m.) and 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Sunday (1:30 p.m.).