2nd Bundesliga – Hertha BSC loses a balanced game at KSC 2:3
IMAGO/Jan Huebner
Audio: SWR | April 21, 2024 | Image: IMAGO/Jan Huebner
End of the high: Hertha BSC is defeated by Karlsruher SC. The Berliners were a match for their opponents and could have taken some valuable points with them. But the KSC was more efficient that day.
- Hertha’s promotion dreams are finally over
- After four games without defeat, Hertha lost 2-3 at KSC
- The friendly fan camps caused a stir with an elaborate choreography
- a KSC fan was seriously injured
Due to the bankruptcy, the Berliners had to let KSC overtake them in the table after four unbeaten games and fell back to seventh place. The gap to Fortuna Düsseldorf in third place is now eleven points with four games remaining.
Duel between friends
In the midst of an otherwise difficult season, the capital club has only had positive things to report recently: the Berliners’ austerity measures have shown their first economic successes, for the first time in many years financially struggling Bundesliga relegated teams achieve a positive operating result in one season. In terms of sport, things were looking brighter again after the convincing 4-0 win against Hansa Rostock the previous week, especially since Hertha could only be beaten by the top second division club FC St. Pauli in nine games. And then the upcoming opponent, Karlsruher SC, was also an extremely valued one, with whom Hertha BSC traditionally maintains a friendly relationship.
The atmosphere in the Karlsruhe stadium before kick-off was correspondingly harmonious. The fans of both teams transformed the stands into a sea of blue and white flags, and an impressive choreography stretched over no less than three stadium curves: The spectators held up a large blue and white ribbon with the coats of arms of the two clubs as well as the Inscription: “United in the colors” and “United against all”.
Intense start
On the pitch, however, both teams were united in their sole desire to leave the pitch as winners. For both clubs it was at least about the vague remaining hope of being able to get back into the promotion race.
And so an intense, entertaining game developed. Aymen Barkok missed the first top-class opportunity after he initially took possession of the ball near the other team’s penalty area, but was then denied by goalkeeper Patrick Drewes (5th minute).
The home team proved to be more callous. After a corner kick, the ball slid over the top of Hertha’s central defender Marc Oliver Kempf and landed at Marco Thiede, who brought the ball under control and dusted it off to give KSC the lead (16th).
In the meantime, the guests from Berlin fought for an equalizer because once again the most feared offensive duo in the second division could not be stopped: Fabian Reese sprinted away from his opponent Philip Heise on the right wing and brought the ball inside in front of the goal to his strike partner Haris Tabakovic, who scored the equalizer (23′).
The home team did not allow themselves to be unsettled and put Hertha’s defense under increasing pressure with a quick combination game. Shortly before the break, things got dicey again in the Berlin penalty area: Jonjoe Kenny cleared a cross illegally by hand, but Heise continued playing without complaint and crossed to the head of KSC striker Matanovic, who was placed and unstoppable and nodded into the right corner of the goal (45 .).
The score was 2-1 at the break in a game in which the spectators’ focus was temporarily solely on the well-being of a KSC fan who had to be treated by paramedics after he fell from a parapet. The fan was eventually transported to the hospital and, according to the club, was responsive again.
Tabakovic makes things exciting late on
After the break, both teams met each other lurkingly. Initially there were no longer any great opportunities. With Derry Scherhant and Florian Niederlechner, Pal Dardai brought in two fresh offensive players for Palko Dardai and Barkok for the last twenty minutes.
But Karlsruhe didn’t allow much in defense – and quickly switched to attack: Marvin Wanitzek made the supposed preliminary decision with his goal to make it 3-1. Paul Nebel had previously prevailed against Hertha’s Karbownik, which allowed Wanitzek to get to the ball and take a well-placed shot (77′).
Things got exciting again in the final phase because the guests were awarded a hand penalty through video evidence, which Tabakovic safely converted (87th) – the attacker is now at the top of the top scorers list with 21 goals, three goals ahead of Christos Tzolis Fortuna Dusseldorf.
In the end, Hertha was still unable to avert the defeat in Karlsruhe.
The voices for the game
Pal Dardai (Hertha coach): “There was a lot more possible. We built up the opponent ourselves (…). You have to say, the first half was okay, then there was a huge hole. (…) The will was there until the end, but the ability wasn’t there.”
Fabian Reese (Hertha): “We had a very good away game for long stretches. But, emblematic of this season, we defended too carelessly in the crucial situations. We scored goals in unfavorable situations and thus gave the game away , even though we actually had more of the game.”
Igor Matanovic (KSC): “It was a chaotic game for both teams. Neither team got it right. There were attempts, but in the end something was missing. Our opening goal before half-time was extremely important that you went into the break like that. “
The voices in the audio
The game in the live ticker
Broadcast: rbb AT 6, April 21, 2024, 6:00 p.m