BERLIN (Dispatches) -
Hertha Berlin have secured their second straight victory after Maximilian Bauer’s own-goal turned the tides in favor of the hosts at curtain raiser of 5th round in Bundesliga.
The hosts assumed control from the starting whistle and came to their first chance with 16 minutes gone when Suat Serdar unleashed a dangerous curl, which missed the target just wide.
Furth grew into the game as the clock ticked but for all that the visitors lacked in penetration and ideas to threaten Berlin’s defense.
The newly promoted outfit reaped its first chance on target before the break though as Hertha failed to clear the ball from the area, allowing Cedric Itten to get a shot on goal.
After the restart, Hertha took the reins again, but Furth shocked the hosts with the opener. Jeremy Dudziak penetrated the penalty area and was brought down by Berlin defender Deyovaisio Zeefuik in the 56th minute. Branimir Hrgota made no mistake and converted the foul play penalty into the top right.
Furth’s lead didn’t last too long as Berlin wasn’t shocked at all and flabbergasted the visitors with the equalizer four minutes later through new arrival Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, who nodded home Marton Dardai’s corner to mark his debut goal for his new club.
Both sides exchanged attacks as Hrgota tested Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow while Davie Selke forced custodian Sascha Burchert from tight angle at the other end of the pitch.
Hertha Berlin then wrapped up all three points on home soil with great assistance of Furth’s Maximilian Bauer, who cleared the ball into the wrong goal from very close range in the 79th minute.
Newly promoted Furth couldn’t respond and still wait for its first victory in Germany’s topflight.
With the result, Greuther Furth stay at the bottom with one point from five games whereas Hertha Berlin climb on the 9th place.
“Both teams played really passive in the first half. After the restart we made some good substitutions, but we needed to concede a goal to wake up. We played very well in the second half that why I think we deserved the win,” Berlin head coach Pal Dardai said.
The following fixtures are scheduled for Saturday: Arminia Bielefeld host Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich face newcomers Bochum, Mainz take on Freiburg, Augsburg clash with Borussia Monchengladbach and Cologne see Leipzig.