Into the last 16: Hertha win away in Münster!

Head coach Pál Dárdai was able to rotate his squad in this busy week and made seven changes from the side which started the win against Borussia Mönchengladbach: Linus Gechter, Deyo Zeefuik, Lucas Tousart, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Dennis Jastrzembski, Davie Selke and Stevan Jovetić all came into the starting XI. Prince Boateng missed out with a minor knee problem, and Peter Pekarík and Márton Dárdai were rested as the head coach mentioned in his press conference. U23 defender Cimo Röcker took a spot on the first team’s bench for the first time.

A fast start – Preußen equalise just before the break

Hertha made the ideal opening to the match, winning a corner within 40 seconds and finding the net in just the third minute of the game. A brilliant attack eventually found its way to the head of Jastrzembski, whose header back across goal was volleyed home by the returning Jovetić to give the away side a 1-0 lead. Hertha’s number 19 was causing all kinds of problems early on, and almost doubled his personal tally but found a Münster defender in the way (10’). Up the other end, SCP pressed high, and their first opportunity on 16 minutes was fashioned out of them winning the ball high up the pitch, but Nicolai Remberg’s shot was easy for Alex Schwolow. The first half of the game was fast-paced and filled with chances for both sides, with a Gerrit Wegkamp header and Jovetić’s shot after a mazy dribble both well saved by the respective goalkeepers. Marvin Thiel’s low free kick was also ably parried by “Schwolli”, and Jovetić headed narrowly wide from a Marvin Plattenhardt set piece (25’, 37’). The Münster equaliser came on 41 minutes, with a Thorben Deters shot finding the net on the rebound from the home side hitting the post. The half was not yet done, though, as Remberg, booked earlier on for bringing down the lively Jastrzembski, received his marching orders for a dive in the Hertha penalty area (45+2’). That was the last action of the half, and the two sides went in level with Hertha a man to the good.

Substitutes make the difference: Belfodil and Richter score winners

Without changes from either side at half time, and despite the numerical advantage, the first chances of the second 45 belonged to the home team, as Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata did well to stand in the way of Deters’ shot (54’). Head coach Dárdai reacted and looked to create more chances going forward with two changes, Suat Serdar and Marco Richter coming on, and both went close from long range (57’, 65’). As the game drew on, the game turned into a classic cup fight, in front of a noisy crowd, and the home side took full advantage of that to make it difficult for the “Old Lady”. Zeefuik and Richter had two shots in quick succession, but Schulze Niehues in the Münster goal was equal to them (70’), as well as an effort from substitute Ishak Belfodil six minutes later. Hertha kept pushing though, and finally took the lead with 11 to go – Tousart’s shot was saved but not held, and the ball fell perfectly for Belfodil to tap home. It got better for the 600 or so travelling fans shortly after, with Serdar’s brilliant assist finding Richter who made no mistake (83’). Hertha didn’t stop attacking there either, with a Myziane Maolida shot cleared off the line and Richter’s prospective second ruled out for offside (90’). Alas, there was no fourth goal, but the Blue-Whites confirmed their place in the round of 16, and will find out their opponent on October 31st (18:30 CET). The game will be played on the 18th or 19th of January 2022.

SC Preußen Münster: Schulze Niehues; Schauerte, Ziegele, Hoffmeier, Thiel (83‘ Dahlke); Remberg, Klann, Deters (82‘ Farrona Pulido); Langlitz (69‘  Hemmerich), Wegkamp, Teklab

Hertha BSC: Schwolow; Zeefuik, Boyata (C), Gechter, Plattenhardt; Ekkelenkamp (55‘ Richter), Tousart, Darida (55‘ Serdar), Jastrzembski (72‘ Belfodil); Jovetić (77‘ Maolida), Selke (77‘ Piątek)

Goals: 0-1 Jovetić (3‘), 1-1 Deters (41‘), 1-2 Belfodil (79‘), 1-3 Richter (83‘)

Referee: Frank Willenborg

Yellow Cards: Schauerte, Langlitz, Klann, Ziegele - Ekkelenkamp, Belfodil

Red Cards: Remberg (Second Bookable Offence, Simulation)

Attendance: 11,037