3-0 win in friendly called early

At the Smaragd-Arena in Bramberg, Pál Dárdai sent out nine of the same faces who beat Liverpool on Thursday. Dropping out of the eleven were Santiago Ascacíbar (concussion) and Prince Boateng (workload management). Their places were taken by Vladimír Darida and Stevan Jovetić. Suat Serdar set the tempo early on – first letting fly from distance (12’) before going on a superb solo run and drawing a foul from a Gaziantep defender (13’). Davie Selke hit the resulting penalty at the goalkeeper but was able to convert the opportunity at the second time of asking (14’). Barely a minute later, the ‘keeper was in action again to deny Jovetić from the edge of the box (16’). Hertha took control of the game, looking secure in possession and using the gegenpress effectively.

Jovetić again shot at Güvenc (27’), who has previously played in Germany for Ulm and Stuttgarter Kickers. For the opposition, Niyaz (39’) passed up an opportunity after a Hertha error presented Gaziantep with the ball. Alexander Schwolow also had to pull out a great save to preserve the lead (38’). But Hertha’s lead would soon be doubled with Dodi Lukébakio firing the ball home from the spot after Selke was tripped in the area (45’).

Niklas Stark increased the lead with a header ten minutes after half-time (55’), but the game didn’t last much longer as a sudden and relentless hailstorm set in soon after the goal. Referee Philipp Maier called the match to a premature end, meaning that the lads have now finished preseason unbeaten. They can now look forward to the first competitive fixture of the season in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. We face SV Meppen away on 8th August (15:30 CEST).

Hertha BSC: Schwolow – Pekarík, Stark, M. Dárdai, Plattenhardt – Serdar, Darida – Lukébakio, Jovetić (46’ Gayret), Dilrosun – Selke

Bench: Lotka (GK), Klünter, Mitteltädt, Jastrzembski, Netz, Redan, Werthmüller, Michelbrink, Dirkner, Zeefuik, Gechter, Morgenstern.

Gaziantep FK: Güvenc, Ceyla, Djilobodji, Ersoy, Tosca, Mendyl – Erdogan, Soyalp, Niyaz – Özer, Sagal.

Goals: 1-0 Selke (14’), 2-0 Lukébakio (45’, penalty), 3-0 Stark (55’)

Referee: Philipp Maier