Haris Tabakovic only knew one way after his goal. Quickly to the substitute bench. There the striker held up the black T-shirt with the print “We Herthaners in deep mourning” and then raised a finger to the sky. It was a silent greeting from the goalscorer. The only possible greeting and the only possible gesture after a moving memorial service by the Berlin second division soccer team before the start of the second half of the season against Fortuna Düsseldorf for its president Kay Bernstein, who died unexpectedly.
After Tabakovic (30th minute), Derry Scherhant (45th + 1) scored for Hertha, but also Isak Bergmann Johannesson (44th) and Christos Tzolis (49th/penalty kick) for Düsseldorf, Tzolis (56th) scored one another penalty shot next to the goal, so that the game ended 2:2 (2:1), which was just the statistical continuation of an emotional, cold football Sunday in the Olympic Stadium, which had been turned into a place of remembrance.
Hertha coach Pal Dardai had tears in his eyes as the players stood in the center circle and everyone observed a minute’s silence in the stadium shortly before kick-off. The importance of Bernstein for Hertha became clear once again in the collective remembrance. “Kay was a person who touched us. He was a person who never talked down to himself. He never asked what was good for Kay. He always asked, “What’s good for Hertha BSC,” said Dardai on Sky.
Silent ultras
His team reacted stably in front of 42,209 spectators and controlled the game. Scherhant had an early shot opportunity (8th). But none of the teams took any risks. Fortuna held back as decently as their own fans had silently supported the worthy setting of the Bernstein memorial, at least in the run-up to the game. For a long time, this game didn’t look like a fight for a promotion place at all.
Scherhant, the Berlin native, was the one who ran the most. When his counterattack threatened to fizzle out, the ball came to Tabakovic, who hit it into the goal at a speed of 105 kilometers per hour. The cheering was a liberation. Shortly after the center forward hit the post (42nd), Fortuna had their first chance to equalize with Bergmann Johannesson’s long-range shot. But Scherhant didn’t want to leave it like that. His powerful shot to take the lead again from a similar position to Tabakovic was one kilometer per hour faster.
Düsseldorf shed its noble reserve. Tzoli’s penalty goal equalized. And after Marc Oliver Kempf’s second penalty foul, they could have almost taken the lead with a curious doublet. Now the guests were clearly the better team. The Hertha Ultras, to whom Bernstein once gave rhythm and voice as a lead singer during his eventful football life, remained silent the entire game. Bernstein’s presidential seat in the main stand featured his signature blue and white club jacket, megaphone and white roses.
Joy near Magdeburg
Tatsuya Ito scored 1. FC Magdeburg to victory. The Japanese substitute scored against SV Wehen Wiesbaden on Sunday after 80 minutes to make it 1-0 (0-0) and in front of 22,582 spectators ensured that the Magdeburgers overtook the guests in the table. Wehen Wiesbaden played the final minutes outnumbered after Amar Cadiz was shown a yellow-red card in the 84th minute. Magdeburg is now six points ahead of the relegation relegation place, Wehen Wiesbaden is five.
Despite some personnel problems on the offensive, the hosts played forward with a lot of possession as usual. But once again they revealed weaknesses in their finishing, Wehen Wiesbaden defended solidly and hardly allowed any compelling opportunities. Only Baris Atik (26th) came close to taking the FCM lead in the first section.
It was only after the break that Wehen Wiesbaden became dangerous. After 55 minutes, Franko Kovacevic slipped on the difficult-to-play pitch alone in front of goalkeeper Dominik Reimann. On the other side, Ito had the chance to take the lead after 70 minutes, but carelessly missed it. He did better with the winning goal, which was prepared by Silas Gnaka. It was the eleventh goal of the season by a substitute from Magdeburg.
Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Daniel Theweleit, Gelsenkirchen Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1 Published/Updated: Published/Updated: Recommendations: 1
SpVgg Greuther Fürth is back on the road to success and has improved to fourth place. After two draws before the winter break, coach Alexander Zorniger’s team managed a 1-0 (1-0) win against their previous table neighbors SC Paderborn.
Thanks to Armindo Sieb’s goal (33rd minute) on Sunday in front of 10,975 spectators in Paderborn, the relegation place is still within reach, only two points behind Hamburger SV. In contrast, East Westphalia’s successful streak came to an end with three wins. That cost them the chance to overtake Greuther Fürth.
After an initially open exchange of blows with chances on both sides, Sieb gave the enthusiastic guests the lead. After winning the ball, Robert Wagner brought his teammate Sieb into position, who sent the ball into the net with great force. In the second half, Paderborn acted more courageously and pressed the opponent’s goal. However, great opportunities to equalize remained unused. Adriano Grimaldi (78th) failed with a penalty kick against the strong goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.