3-2 win over Al-Hilal Riad!
Less than 24 hours after our friendly win over Liverpool, the Herthaner were back on the pitch for the next test. The boys in blue and white took on Al-Hilal Riad in Zell am See on Friday night. Due to the opponents getting stuck in traffic, the game kicked off 45 minutes late. Pál Dárdai completely changed the team from last night, while Riad coach, Leonardo Jardim, who knows Stevan Jovetić from their time together at Monaco, left their most prominent names Bafétimbi Gomis and Sebastian Giovinco on the bench. Instead, Luciano Vietto and Moussa Marega began up front.
The 17-time champions of Saudi Arabia went 1-0 up after just seven minutes. Ex-Porto striker Marega grabbed the goal. It didn’t take long for a Hertha response, though. Dennis Jastrzembski set up Jonas Michelbrink to make it 1-1 (9’). After Nils Körber denied Vietto (14’), Dárdai’s team took the lead in Austria. Maximilian Mittelstädt, captaining the side, found the back of the net from range with a powerful shot on his weaker right foot (20’). Ruwen Werthmüller had two chances to score before the break, while Jastrzembski also couldn’t convert an opportunity. That meant the first half, which ended after 40 minutes, ended 2-1 to Hertha.
Jastrzembski scores and has to come off
There was one change at the start of the second half for the Berliners, with Deyovaisio Zeefuik replacing Lukas Klünter. The 2019 AFC Champions League winners also made several substitutions, including Gomis. There were few chances until Marlon Morgenstern played a brilliant ball to Jastrzembski and he scored for Hertha’s third (53’). The goalscorer, who had an impressive game, was then forced off after a rough tackle. He was replaced by Luca Netz (63’). Unfortunately, the ‘Old Lady’ suffered another knock shortly afterwards. This time, Jonas Michelbrink had to come off. With no other substitutes left, goalkeeper Marcel Lotka came on up front (65’). Despite a late goal by Gomis (78’), it finished 3-2 to Hertha after 80 minutes. “It was a good workout and we scored some nice goals. Maxi and the youngsters, including Marlon and DJ, did really well. Overall, it was a good test for us,” said Pál Dárdai after the game. Goalkeeper Nils Körber added: “They had quality, but we played good football and were deserved winners. A second straight win is a good feeling, although we can’t take too much from results like this.”
Hertha remain unbeaten after eight pre-season friendlies. The final game in Austria is on Saturday against Gaziantep FK (16:00 CEST) at the Alois-Latini-Stadion in Zell Am See, live on Hertha TV.
Hertha BSC: Körber, Zeefuik (46' Klünter), Gechter, Morgenstern, Mittelstädt (C), Gayret, Dirkner, Michelbrink (65' Lotka), Redan, Werthmüller, Jastrzembski (63' Netz).
Al-Hilal-Riad: Almuaiouf (63' Al-Waked), Alburayk, Jang, Al Bulayhi, Nasser, Carrillo (52' Bahebri), Kanno (46' Jahfali), Otayf (68' Coellar), Vietto, Shehri (46' Gomis), Marega
Goals: 0-1 Marega (7'), 1-1 Michelbrink (14'), 2-1 Mittelstädt (20'), 3-1 Jastrzembski (53'), 3-2 Gomis (78')
Referee: Ramiz Begovic
Yellow card: Zeefuik