Hertha come from behind twice to secure a draw

Pál Dárdai sent out his side with an attacking mindset for the game in Hamburg. Despite regularly using a back four recently, he went with a three-man defence for this one, with Maximilian Mittelstädt playing in central midfield alongside Santiago Ascacíbar. Hertha’s first chances came through new signing Suat Serdar. The German’s two shots landed comfortably in the arms of Pauli goalkeeper Dennis Smarsch (14’, 23’), who came through the Hertha academy. The ball was in the back of Alexander Schwolow’s net after 21 minutes. However, Daniel-Kofi Kyereh’s goal was disallowed as he was offside. After Davie Selke and Javairô Dilrosun both missed chances at the other end, FCSP’s striker Kyereh did break the deadlock this time on the stroke of half time (43’). Three minutes later, Niklas Stark cancelled that out with a header from a Deyovaisio Zeefuik cross (45’). The crazy end to the first half was completed with a goal from Simon Makienok to give the hosts a 2-1 lead at the break (45’).

Nils Körber replaced Schwolow in goal for the second half in Hertha’s only change. Five minutes after the restart, Zeefuik and Dilrosun combined nicely down the right and that move resulted in Suat Serdar scoring from a tight angle to make it 2-2 (50’). With 20 minutes left to play, Dárdai changed all the outfield players, giving a number of youngsters the chance to impress. One of those, Ruwen Werthmüller, had the best chance to win it. He was through one-on-one in the 85th minute, but Smarsch got the better of him in that battle. The final opportunity was a St. Pauli free-kick, which didn’t trouble Körber greatly, and thus the game ended 2-2.

FC St. Pauli: Smarsch, Ziereis (75' J. Lawrence), Medić, Zander (64’ Viet), Paqarada (64’ La Ritzka), Smith (64’ Aremu), Benatelli (75’ Knoll), Becker (46’ Buchtmann), Makienok (46’ Dittgen), Kyereh (75’ Brandt), Burgstaller (64’ Daschner)

Hertha BSC: Schwolow (45’ Körber), Klünter (70’ Netz), Stark (70’ Gechter), M. Dárdai (70’ Morgenstern), Zeefuik (70’ Netz), Ascacíbar (70’ Gayret), Mittelstädt (70’ Dirkner), Plattenhardt (70’ Jastrezembski) , Dilrosun (70’ Redan), Selke (70’ Werthmüller), Serdar (70’ Lukébakio)

Bench: Körber (GK), Lukébakio, Jastrzembski, Netz, Redan, Werthmüller, Michelbrink, Dirkner, Gechter, Gayret, Morgenstern

Goals: 1-0 Kyereh (44'), 1-1 Stark (45'), 2-1 Makienok (45'), 2-2 Serdar (50')

Referee: Adrian Höhns

Attendance: 2,500