Frustrating defeat at Hertha BSC

Goal-filled first half

Both teams went on the front foot straight away and Serhou Guirassy had the first chance in the seventh minute, only to be thwarted by Oliver Christensen, before Lucas Tousart flashed a shot narrowly wide of the post at the other end of the pitch (12′). After an evenly balanced opening period, the home side took the lead when Marc Oliver Kempf headed in Marco Richter’s cross (29′). VfB did not need long to reply and were back on level terms ten minutes later when Josha Vagnoman teed up Guirassy to tap in at the back post (38′). The match appeared to be heading for a draw at the interval, only for Hertha to score again in added time when Florian Niederlechner prodded in from close range following a free-kick (45’+2).

No way through

Hertha were happy to sit back and defend in the second half, allowing VfB the lion’s share of possession, but Sebastian Hoeneß’ men were unable to force a way through and a long-range shot from Enzo Millot that sailed off target was initially as close as the visitors came to adding to the scoreline. VfB made a number of attack-minded substitutions but could not outfox a Hertha side defending with passion and grit. Vagnoman had a shot tipped over the bar by Christensen (82′), Wataru Endo drilled a long-range effort wide (84′) and Chris Führich was unable to covert two chances in stoppage time as VfB were left nursing a frustrating defeat.

Goals:

29th minute (1-0): A Hertha corner is only half cleared and the ball is played back to Richter, who crosses from the right into the middle for ex-VfB defender Kempf to head in the opening goal.

38th minute (1-1): Borna Sosa crosses to the back post, where Vagnoman lays the ball off to Guirassy to tap in the equaliser!

45’+2 minute (2-1): Dodi Lukebakio drills a free-kick towards goal and Niederlechner sticks out a foot to divert it through Fabian Bredlow’s legs and into the net.

Reaction:

Sebastian Hoeneß, VfB head coach: “We’re very disappointed with the result. We missed the chance to take an important step today. It would have been important to take the lead, but Hertha did so instead. After that it was the kind of game we were hoping for: we had more control and got into the positions we wanted to. Their second goal made it really tough because Hertha are able to sit deep and defend robustly. Against teams like that you need a certain freshness and purpose, and that’s what we were lacking today. At the end of the day it’s a result that hurts us, but it won’t knock us off course.”