From the BZ editorial team
Oh, Hertha, who has hope now? Despite hopeful coach Pal Dardai, relegation can hardly be prevented.
The Berliners go down 2:5 in Cologne. Should Bochum (today against Augsburg) and Stuttgart (tomorrow in Leverkusen) win, both clubs will be six points ahead of Hertha. Schalke (today at Bayern) remains five points ahead even if they go bankrupt. How should Hertha catch up in two games?
Dardai: “Defensively it was nothing today. We allowed too many crosses. The lead players didn’t read the game. We now have to wait for the weekend.”
Hertha now has to plan seriously for the second division. Or do all competitors lose and the trembling, suffering and hope for relegation place 16 goes on?
The first half is a spectacle. Cologne takes the lead early on, of all things, through ex-Hertha player Davie Selke, who jumps over Uremovic and heads in (8th). Both players bump their heads and have to go down.
Hertha strikes back: Solo Richter, Cologne’s Schindler into Tousart’s feet, who slams the 1-1 in with his left hand from 11 meters (18′). Then even the lead: Diagonal ball Dardai, Lukebakio crosses, Jovetic pushes into the near corner to make it 2-1 (34th).
Disappointed: Jonjoe Kenny from Hertha Photo: City Press
Hertha on top? Not long. Kainz free-kick, Hübers heads the equalizer (39′). Then the defense fails. Substitute Rogel turns around in front, Cologne counters via Tigges, Rogel can’t keep up. Cross pass Maina, Skhiri saves, Plattenhardt deflects – 2:3 (43rd).
Keeper Christensen prevented a higher deficit in the second half. It’s no use in the end. After a Maina cross, Hübers maneuvered the 2: 4 in (70), Huseinbasic the 2: 5 (81st).
No game without fan protests: The Hertha supporters show a banner that reads “Ingmar Pering – the next rat is leaving the sinking steamer”. Member of the Executive Committee Pering, who once bought the founding steamer Hertha with money from the fans and has not renovated it to this day, resigned on Thursday and then severely criticized President Kay Bernstein, accusing him of incompetence.
TV broadcaster DAZN wanted to ask Bernstein for a clarifying interview, but spread that the Hertha boss was not in the stadium at all. Incorrect! The President declined to comment but watched the game from the stands. Bernstein saw Hertha lose again – and is now almost certainly relegated.
Tomorrow is the general meeting. There will be tough questions for the Hertha boss