Ekkelenkamp debuts with goal and Hertha wins again

by time news

BERLIN (AP) – Jurgen Ekkelenkamp scored within 87 seconds of making their debut for Hertha Berlin, who beat newly promoted Greuther Fürth 2-1 in the Bundesliga on Friday.

The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder, who joined Hertha from Ajax during the break before this season, scored with a header from a corner kick in the 61st minute to tie the score.

He was also involved in the second touchdown, an own goal by Maximilian Bauer in the 79th minute, which was decisive for the victory of the Berlin side.

It was Hertha’s second straight win – both against teams that played last season in the second division – after starting the season with three losses.

But nothing was easy for Hertha, who lost captain Dedryck Boyata and French forward Myziane Maolida through injuries. Coach Pái Dárdai was cautioned towards the end of the match for an angry claim to the referee.

Arne Friedrich, Hertha’s sports director, had to hold Dárdai, to prevent the altercation from spreading.

“I have already apologized,” Dardai said. “That was too aggressive.”

Hertha supporters were optimistic at the start of the match, following last week’s 3-1 victory over Bochum. But the first half let them down, and it was Greuther Fürth who took the lead in the 57th minute, after a penalty by Deyovaisio Zeefuik on Jeremy Dudziak.

Branimir Hrgota converted from 11 steps, before Hertha turned the game around.

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