“Hertha BSC Loses 2:5 to Cologne – Remains Bottom of Bundesliga”

At the start of the 32nd matchday in the Bundesliga, Hertha BSC lost 2:5 (2:3) at 1. FC Köln. The goals were scored by Davie Selke (8th minute), Timo Hübers (39th, 69th), Ellyes Shkiri (44th) and Denis Huseinbasic (81st) for Cologne as well as Lucas Tousart (18th) and Stevan Jovetic (33rd). for Hertha BSC. Due to the defeat, the Berlin team remain bottom of the table, initially three points behind relegation place 16.

Both teams treated themselves to a more cautious pace for eight minutes, then the entire Hertha defense dreamed of a throw-in from Cologne. Which is why Eric Martel was able to cross undisturbed and found the head of ex-Hertha player Davie Selke, who prevailed in the aerial duel against two Berliners and scored the lead. An effective hit that occupied Hertha for more than ten minutes before Stevan Jovetic had the idea for a dream pass into Marco Richter’s run. The left winger dribbled dynamically into the Cologne penalty area and then missed an orderly shot, but was lucky that the ball came to Lucas Tousart over Cologne’s defensive legs. The French thanked him with a dry left-footed shot from eleven yards to make it 1-1 (18′).

The following 15 minutes belonged exclusively to the hosts. Hertha hardly provided any relief, only rarely found a stable order against intensive Cologne and was able to thank goalkeeper Oliver Christensen in the 25th minute, who put his arm to the ball in an outstanding manner against a header from Kingsley Schindler, who was completely blank and was able to clarify. The renewed leadership of “Effzeh” was now in the air. The next hit, however, came from Hertha. After a wonderful diagonal ball from Marton Dardai over half the pitch and into the run from right winger Dodi Lukebakio, the Belgian then passed across to Jovetic, who converted confidently from ten meters.

Six minutes later it was a dubious free-kick decision that Cologne’s Florian Kainz used for a measured cross on Timo Hübers’ head. The central defender then found it easy to head the ball into the goal (39′). Cologne stayed tuned and took the lead again in the 44th. After runs by Steffen Tigges, who came on for the injured Selke, and Linton Maina down the left side, the ball finally came to the center of the midfield clearer Ellys Shkiri, who hit the left corner of the goal from about ten meters and far too undisturbed.

The second half began as the first ended – with constant pressure from Cologne. First, Tigges missed the ball by just a foot after a cross from the right (48′). Three minutes later, after another cross from the right, he failed to get past Hertha goalkeeper Christensen from one meter. In the 58th minute it was substitute Jan Thielmann (for Martel) who failed from close range at Christensen. This was preceded by a Hertha free kick near the Cologne penalty area. And it just kept going. The subsequent corner resulted in a long-range shot from Dejan Ljubicic, which Christensen was able to counter with another brilliant save. Another minute later, Hübers headed the crossbar after a corner.

Ten minutes later, Cologne’s central defender did better. After a flat cross from the left, Hübers held the side heel of his right foot in the path of the ball, which went into the goal from there (69′). Hertha coach Dardai had already changed three times (Suat Serdar for Dardai, Maximilian Mittelstädt for Marvin Plattenhardt, Jessic Ngankam for Florian Niederlechner), but there was no rebellion. Instead, Cologne had more chances to score, including hitting the crossbar again in the 77th minute. And in the 81st minute it was 5:2. After another cross on the right side, the ball came via detours to substitute Denis Huseinbasic (for Kainz), who hit from about nine meters and deflected by Jonjoe Kenny untenable.

Hertha started quite decently, defended attentively and tried to counterattack via the fast wingers Lukebakio and Richter or to create a moment of surprise with rehearsed standard variations. That went well for exactly eight minutes before the Berlin defense network fell into a collective deep sleep. The fact that Martel was able to cross so undisturbed before the 1-0 lead and was only looked at in amazement by Hertha’s defense has nothing to do with football tactics. However, how such misconduct can be explained will probably occupy many generations of football analysts.

All the more amazing that and with what efficiency Hertha was able to turn the game into a 2-1 lead. But then Pal Dardai’s team was simply overwhelmed against Cologne’s even more determined team. The Berliners could neither keep up the pace nor the intensity of the hosts. Collective defense in a block became collective chasing after each individual. Neither on the defensive flanks nor in the center of midfield, the six-room, Hertha ever really had access. Offensively, Lukebakio, Richter and Jovetic always had highlights. However, they could never have compensated for the failures of the defensive that evening.

Broadcast: rbb24, May 12, 2023, 10 p.m