2. Bundesliga – Kempf heads Hertha out of the crisis in Fürth
IMAGO/Zink
Audio: BR | 02/11/2024 | Marcel Seufert | Image: IMAGO/Zinc
Hertha BSC has rewarded itself for its great commitment to Greuther Fürth. After three defeats in a row, the Berliners celebrated another victory. Marc Oliver Kempf made the difference with two goals – but had to leave the field injured.
- Hertha won for the first time in the new calendar year
- Fabian Reese played again from the start after a corona infection
- Kempf scored twice, but was injured on the second goal
- In stoppage time, Niederlechner received a yellow-red card
- The game had to be interrupted several times due to fan protests
In the table, Hertha made one set with the three points and moved up to eighth place, while Greuther Fürth missed the chance to jump into one of the promotion places.
Tough duels, Kempf scores
Pal Dardais Herthaner were equal to the favored hosts in the early stages. Starting eleven returnee Fabian Reese was initially the most noticeable player. The former Fürth player (2018/2019) repeatedly started sprinting with the ball on the left side, but he did not bring the last pass into the danger zone precisely enough.
In the 22nd minute, referee Marco Fritz conceded Herthan’s supposed opening goal by Florian Niederlechner – Aymen Barkok had previously taken possession of the game by fouling Branimir Hrgota.
But the visiting team had now taken control of the pitch and were pushing for the first legal goal. A good ten minutes later the time had come: After a corner kick from Palko Dardai, Marc Oliver Kempf rose highest against Fürth who was defending too timidly and headed in well to make it 1-0 (34th).
There had previously been a short interruption after numerous fans from Fürth Tennis balls were thrown onto the court.
The second division game was also characterized by tough duels. Hertha’s Marten Winkler, who coach Pal Dardai put on the bench before the half-time whistle as a precaution and replaced by Derry Scherhant, was noticed several times.
Kempf for second
Although the guests from Berlin remained in control after the break, it was Fürth’s Branimir Hrgota who put an exclamation mark after 55 minutes. The team captain dribbled his way into the penalty area from the half-right side, shook off defender Andreas Bouchalakis with a physical illusion and shot the ball into the far corner to equalize.
In a game characterized by several hard fouls and a pack formation, it was Marc Oliver Kempf who once again made the difference with a header. The central defender headed a free kick from the left towards the goal, and Lukas Petkov, who had been substituted from Fürth just a few moments earlier, deflected the ball decisively with his back to give Berlin the lead again (63′). After the action, Kempf remained on the ground because he had twisted his ankle in the situation. Dardai had to replace the double goalscorer with Tim Hoffmann.
Niederlechner flies off the pitch
After the game only had to be briefly interrupted in the first half due to fan protests, there were several breaks in the second half because objects kept flying onto the pitch. From the 75th minute onwards the game continued without interruption.
In the final phase, the home team put more and more pressure on the Berlin backline. It was also thanks to the strong saver Tjark Ernst that Hertha BSC was able to take home the narrow victory in the end.
The downside for the Berliners was Niederlechner’s unnecessary sending off shortly before the final whistle, which he got through a time delay.
The voices for the game
Pal Dardai (Hertha coach): “We deservedly took the lead in the first half. In the second half we didn’t score after three or four great chances. A 2-0 would be a different away game. Then we have the goal got. The team marched on, then the 2-1. (…) At the end it was passionate, outnumbered. (…) Respect to the team, to the morale.”
Fabian Reese (Hertha): “I had a few muscular problems during the week, so it was a pretty quick start. But today was ‘mind over body’, my legs kind of carried me. In the end it was of course a little tough , especially these long distances. At first I thought I could play for 45 minutes, but then it turned out to be a little longer [Reese wurde in der 96. Minute ausgewechselt, Anm. d. Red.].”
Julian Green (Greuther Fürth): “They did well, defensively. But there were still two or three moments where the ball had to at least go towards the goal, and then it was probably in. But when you’re behind twice against Berlin, then they did it well, and that’s annoying.”
The voices in the audio
The game in the live ticker
Broadcast: rbb UM6, February 11, 2024, 6 p.m