Soccer Bundesliga

Cologne wins seven-goal game
Hertha BSC falls apart and approaches the abyss

05/12/2023 10:29 p.m

The Friday game between 1. FC Köln and Hertha BSC is one of the most entertaining of the season. In front of both gates it gets wild at times, mostly in front of the Berliner. The Effzeh punishes that – and thus pushes the bottom of the table one step closer towards the 2nd Bundesliga.

After another faulty and disastrous performance, Hertha BSC is close to being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in eleven years. Coach Pal Dardai’s team lost a wild and turbulent game at 1. FC Köln 2: 5 (2: 3) and, being bottom of the table, is in great danger. The gap to 15th place is five points two games before the end of the season – Hertha can no longer have a realistic chance of staying up in the league if things go badly this weekend.

“Maybe it was my mistake that we dealt with offensive things last week,” said Dardai on DAZN: “Because it was nothing defensive today, we didn’t get anything done. I’ll keep my hands off offensive things now.”

Berlin revealed blatant defensive weaknesses and was particularly vulnerable to headers. This was punished by long-time Hertha striker Davie Selke (8th), Timo Hübers (39th, 69th), Ellyes Skhiri (43rd) and Denis Huseinbasic (81st). Cologne could have scored much more often, but guest goalkeeper Oliver Christensen saved several times. Lucas Tousart (18th) and Stevan Jovetic (33rd) were successful for Hertha.

The relegation would have serious consequences for the financially troubled Berliners, and the economic situation is already threatening. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had reported about possible license problems during the week. “We don’t have money,” admitted Coach Dardai: “But we have a lot of heart.”

His players proved that in Cologne, they didn’t let themselves be unsettled by Selke’s early deficit. Central defender Filip Uremovic was injured in the action, and Selke also had to leave the field a little later. Hertha quickly equalized through Tousart, who converted the margin after a strong action by Marco Richter.

There is no defiant reaction – Cologne leaves good chances

Cologne then took control, but missed many chances – or failed because of Christensen, who saved against Kingsley Schindler (26th), among others. In the middle of this Cologne urge Jovetic exploited a counterattack for a surprising lead, but Hertha did not bring security.

Hübers equalized after a free kick with a head, Berlin’s Dodi Lukebakio then applauded scornfully in the direction of fourth official Tobias Reichel – the Berliners had seen no foul when the free kick was created. Skhiri shocked the guests before the break.

Anyone who had expected a defiant reaction from Berlin was disappointed in the second round. Instead, Christensen continued to be the focus, the Dane saved his team from further goals with sensational saves against Steffen Tigges (51′), Jan Thielmann (58′) and Dejan Ljubicic (59′). If Hübers’ header hit the crossbar (59th), he would have been powerless.

Hertha endured the Cologne assault largely inactively and hardly got into the duels. Nevertheless, Jessic Ngankam had a huge chance to equalize, but failed after a mistake by Jonas Hector at Marvin Schwäbe (63rd). On the other side, Hübers converted artistically, Huseinbasic was later completely free in the penalty area.