By Paul Gorgas
What a wild game! Hertha conceded a 4: 6 in Magdeburg. The Bundesliga relegated team led four times (!) – and ended up empty-handed again. That has never happened to a second division team. The third away game in the 2nd division is also lost for the Berliners – what a frustrating start abroad.
Hertha started the Torfestvial with a lightning start: Fabian Reese conquered the ball in the Magdeburg penalty area and immediately took aim with the right – the 1-0 in the 2nd minute.
Fabian Reese scores his first goal for Hertha BSC
It is Reese’s debut goal in the Hertha jersey after moving from Kiel in the Somme and at the same time Hertha’s first away goal of the current season. But the first riposte follows promptly: Berlin keeper Ernst can only fend off a shot from Schuler in the middle, where Gnaka is the first to come and dust off to make it 1-1 (7th minute).
Then the madness really begins!
22 minutes: Hertha striker Haris Tabakovic weaves past his opponent and crosses for Marten Winkler, who slides in to take the lead again. But the 1st FCM answers again: Schuler resolutely scores to make it 2-2 (37th).
half time? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! This time before the break, Winkler served center forward Tabakovic, who headed in to make it 3-2 in the 42nd minute. Like Winkler, the Swiss scored again after his brace against Fürth (5-0).
Palko Dardai, Marten Winkler and Fabian Reese to make it 2-1 for Hertha Photo: City Press
Hertha coach Pal Dardai brings in Andreas Bochalakis, who moved to the capital during the week, for the second half. The Greek celebrates his debut in central midfield.
But the game doesn’t calm down – on the contrary!
49 minutes: Magdeburg’s Ceka is able to pull away from the edge of the penalty area and the ball hits the bottom right to make it 3-3.
Then it’s Hertha’s turn again: After a corner from Palko Dardai, Joker Smail Prevljak puts Prevljak across to Tabakovic, who heads in to take the lead again and score his second brace in the Hertha shirt (55′).
Haris Tabakovic from Hertha fights his way through Magdeburg Photo: City Press
But Hertha cannot hold the fourth lead either! The relegated team botched the lead again: After a long cross, Ceka put it down for Bell Bell – 4:4 in the 58th minute!
And then Magdeburg suddenly follows suit! 68: Atik shoots from the second row, the ball hits the right angle – a dream goal and the first lead!
It is El Hankouri, who makes a bad mistake at 0:1, who slams the ball into the corner to make it 5:4 for Magdeburg. Craziness! In stoppage time, Arslan (90+3) makes everything clear.
Hertha writes history. Bankruptcy despite being in the lead four times, that’s never happened before!