Kanga the hero as Hertha win it at the death against Schalke!
Sandro Schwarz made two changes to the starting eleven that started the game in Leipzig, with Chidera Ejuke and Wilfried Kanga starting in place of Marco Richter and Ivan Šunjić, who both dropped to the bench. Myziane Maolida and Jean-Paul Boëtius both made the bench for the first time after muscle problems and testicular cancer surgery. The head coach also changed the system, with the team playing a 4-4-2.
Two disallowed Schalke goals – Jovetić unable to put Hertha ahead
Hertha’s attacking set-up, with Stevan Jovetić playing just off Kanga, was clear from the start of the game, with Hertha’s number 18 firing the first warning shot after barely 2 minutes (2’). Three minutes later, Kanga shot towards goal after good interplay with Dodi Lukébakio, but Hertha loanee Alexander Schwolow was equal to the effort (5’). Hertha were the dominant side in the opening period, with over 60% possession in the opening 15 minutes, before Marius Bülter seemed to have scored out of nothing for the visitors. The goal was rightly ruled out by VAR due to an offside in the build-up (16’). The same was the case six minutes later. Oliver Christensen did brilliantly to deny Simon Terodde, before Bülter slotted home the rebound, but the assistant referee raised his flag (22’). At the other end, Jovetić was unable to cleanly connect with the ball after finding himself free in the box following an excellent dribble and then cross from Lukébakio (26’). The game settled down a bit as half time approached, with Hertha unable to find any gaps in the Schalke defence and the only shot of note coming from Kanga but he fired over the bar (44’). The game remained goalless at half time.
Tousart scores from distance – Kanga strikes late to win the game
The Blue-Whites made one change at half time, with Marco Richter replacing Ejuke. Moments later it was Richter who was the first man to run after his teammate Lucas Tousart in celebration, The Frenchman found himself in plenty of space and half-volleyed the ball towards goal. Schwolow looked to be behind the effort, but it trickled into the net (49’), sparking wild celebrations by the corner flag. With the wind in their sails, Hertha maintained control of the game, loudly backed by 60,165 fans inside the Olympiastadion but without looking too threatening. This was the case until the 70th minute, when substitute Richter was picked up by Lukébakio at the backpost, but could only drill his shot into the side netting. As the game reached moved towards its conclusion the visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Sebastian Polter heading into the side netting, before Florent Mollet equalised (85’). But the team did not give up following this knock-back, and moments later found the perfect reply. After Jonjoe Kenny won the ball back, Hertha countered through Lukébakio and Jovetić, who managed to play the ball through to Kanga. Hertha’s number 18 powered through on goal and put the ball past Schwolow for his first Bundesliga goal, giving Hertha an all-important first home win of the season in the process! A brilliant evening of football for all in blue and white, which also saw Jean-Paul Boëtius celebrate his comeback!
Hertha BSC: Christensen – Kenny, Rogel, Kempf, Plattenhardt (C) – Tousart, Serdar (73’ Šunjić), Lukébakio (89’ Dárdai), Ejuke (46’ Richter) – Jovetić (89’ Boëtius), Kanga (90+5' Selke)
FC Schalke 04: Schwolow – Brunner, Yoshida, Matriciani, Ouwejan – Krauß (56’ Latza), Král, Aydin (73’ Karaman), Drexler (56’ Mollet), Bülter (83’ Polter) – Terodde (C)
Goals: 1-0 Tousart (49’), 1-1 Mollet (85’), 2-1 Kanga (88’)
Referee: Martin Petersen
Yellow cards: Kanga, Lukébakio, Richter – Polter
Attendance: 60,165