That was the best birthday present for Herta’s coach Pal Dardai (48). The blue and white professionals beat Schalke 04 5:2 (3:2) in a spectacular goal festival. Two goals from striker Haris Tabakovic and two more from Marten Winkler, one from joker Florian Niederlechner, the home win was complete.
As announced, coach Pal Dardai rebuilt the team. Captain Toni Leistner only sat on the bench, while Marton Dardai played as a central defender. Aymen Barkok was also not in the starting line-up, but Jeremy Dudziak celebrated his comeback to the starting line-up as a sixth man in front of the defense after a six-month injury break. That should bring more momentum to the offensive game.
Palko Dardai had to miss the game due to a gastrointestinal infection; super talent Ibo Maza played for him in the attacking midfield. Coach Dardai had called for more courage in attack. And it worked straight away. Dream start for the blue and whites. In the 2nd minute, Jeremy Dudziak danced through the Schalke defense and Schalke keeper Marius Müller deflected his shot from a tight angle onto the post. Striker Haris Tabakovic grabbed the rebound to make it 1-0.
But just three minutes later, the Royal Blues equalized to 1-1 through Simon Terodde. A turbulent start, but Hertha was unimpressed and continued to push forward. Schalke’s defense was played dizzy. Captain Fabian Reese walked through two S04 defenders, a cross pass and Tabakovic held out his foot again – 2:1 (13th).
Tabakovic with a brace
Hertha’s Fabian Reese passes across, so Haris Tabakovic doesn’t have a hard time and slides in to make it 2-1.Imago Images/mix1
It’s all ok? No! There was also confusion in the blue and white defense. Schalke’s Karaman evaded Linus Gechter in the penalty area, then when Jeremy Dudziak tried to block, the ball bounced to Terodde and he immediately shot – 2:2 (27th).
The peat festival continued. Tabakovic initiated a counterattack and passed to Marten Winkler. The right winger flicked the ball beautifully into the far corner to make it 3-2 (39′). We went into the break with the lead. That’s when memories came back. Hertha also played a turbulent back-and-forth game at FC Magdeburg at the beginning of September, leading 3-2 there and losing 4-6 in the end.
Not this time! After a wonderful cross from Reese, Winkler nodded in with the side part to make it 4:2 (56th). The young winger made an impressive comeback with two goals after a small performance gap in recent weeks.
Winkler makes Hertha’s home win clear with his head
Marten Winkler jumps highest and nods into the side parting to make it 4:2.Imago Images/Eibner
Things also went well in the second half. Joker Florian Niederlechner scored just three minutes after coming on to make it 5-2 (75th). A strong, attractive game from Hertha BSC. With this momentum we are now heading into the international break. The next home game against 1. FC Nürnberg follows on Easter Saturday. Is there another peat festival like this?■