Hertha presses, FCM scores
Both teams started with an open mind, but the hosts had the better chances. After eleven minutes, Daniel Elfadli and Daniel Heber blocked Palkó Dardai and Marten Winkler’s attempts within a few seconds. Both times the ball would have gone into the goal. In particular, the FCM couldn’t get Hertha’s best scorer Fabian Reese under control.
The Magdeburg team’s lead was all the more surprising. Luca Schuler directed Mohammed El Hankouri’s pass with a contact to Baris Atik, who shot from a full run and half-left position and hit the ball flat into the far corner (22′). The FCM was now on the trigger, after a 7-2 scoreline, Hertha had no more shots on goal. Until Magdeburg brought the home team back into the game: After a foul by Xavier Amaechi on Reese, there was a penalty, which the fouled man converted himself (33′). Four minutes later, Hugonet flew off the field after an emergency stop, and Palkó Dardai curled the penalty kick into the top corner from 17 meters (39′).
Half time – or not?
Shortly before the half-time whistle, things got strange: After tennis balls from the stands – as a sign of rejection of the DFL’s plans for an investor to come in – caused the game to be interrupted and new yellow felt balls kept flying, referee Florian Exner made the decision in consultation with the team Teams for an early half-time break. After 15 minutes in the dressing rooms, the teams came back onto the field and first played the remaining four minutes of the first half to the end before the “real” half-time whistle sounded and the sides were swapped. That didn’t exist yet.
FCM comes back and lays an egg of her own
The second half started almost wonderfully for the FCM. After a corner variation, Tobias Müller headed in a buttery cross from Silas Gnaka from a central position to make it 2-2 (51′). The FCM didn’t hide, but initiated the third goal with the next individual mistake. Connor Krempicki lost the ball during the build-up of the game. FCM keeper Dominik Reimann, who was still very far in front of his goal, initially parried a long-range shot from Haris Tabakovic, but he was no longer able to get close to Reese’s follow-up shot from the half-left position (59th).
Hertha now had a little more of the game due to the majority, but FCM didn’t give up. The only thing missing were the really dangerous shots. Until the 90th minute: Substitute Tatsuya Ito and Atik played a one-two, but the Japanese’s shot from 13 meters landed on the aluminum post. So in the end the FCM was left empty-handed and missed taking the next step towards staying in the league.