Fabian Reese in gala form, an internet star on the pitch – and Tjark Ernst as a hero in the penalty thriller: On a wild cup evening, Hertha BSC reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for the first time since 2016 and can dream of the final in their own stadium. Coach Pal Dardai’s team won a memorable round of 16 match against Hamburger SV on Wednesday 5-3 on penalties.
Goalkeeper Ernst became the celebrated man of the evening in the duel from the spot when he saved Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer’s shot. Reese made everything clear with the last shot. After 120 minutes it was 3:3 after whirlwind Reese (21st, 90th) and Jonjoe Kenny (120th) for Hertha and Immanuel Pherai (31st), Laszlo Benes (43rd) and Königsdörffer (102nd) for had met HSV.
HSV turns the game around
It is already Herthaner’s most successful cup run since the 2015/2016 season, in which the Berliners only failed in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund. The dream of the final on May 25th next year in the Olympic Stadium at home is alive. Only the second team in 1993 had been granted this honor, when the then Regionalliga team lost 1-0 to Bayer Leverkusen.
“It’s a cream Wednesday, a top game,” Hertha coach Pal Dardai had said in advance: “Hopp or top.” And the Berlin fans immediately set the tone by setting off fireworks in the east curve before kick-off Sparks just flew. She slowly transferred the fiery atmosphere to the field.
The guests only occasionally combined well in front of the goal, but before they got stuck on a Berlin leg – and Hertha? The large amount of possession initially led to little danger until Reese turned up the heat. When Hamburg unfortunately cleared a cross from Florian Niederlechner, the native of Kiel first hit the post and then into the net.
The answer required an individual action in this phase because the Herthan defense had defended all efforts compactly to date. Pherai, who had previously been denied by Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst, gave the goalkeeper no chance this time with his shot from 25 meters. Suddenly HSV was awake. After Andras Nemeth’s lay-off, Benes (41′) aimed just wide before only having to score two minutes later. Ernst had let Levin Öztunali’s cross pass in front of Benes’ feet.
After the break, the second half started with much more momentum than the first. With a corner hitting the post (49th), Benes surprised the Berliners, who remained agile via Reese. The 26-year-old center forward Haris Tabakovic (52nd) found his congenial partner with a beautiful outside cross, but he was denied by Hamburg’s cup keeper Matheo Raab. The substitute for the regular number one, Daniel Heuer, even cleared Fernandes with his head when Reese (64′) tried from a tight angle.
Roland Zorn, Stuttgart Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Marc Heinrich, Saarbrücken Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 3
For the final spurt, Dardai brought internet star Nader El-Jindaoui, who made his professional debut. The offensive player, who is followed by millions of people online, came on as a substitute in the 80th minute. It was Reese who saved Hertha in extra time. There Königsdörffer put the guests back in the lead. But in the last minute of extra time, Kenny struck and forced the decision from the spot.
