Berlin – It was a liberation, or much more a liberation hammer, when defender Marton Dardai (21) loaded the ball in the 52nd minute in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday and Hertha BSC with a 2:1 lead shot.
Marton Dardai (21, 2nd from right) is celebrated by his teammate after his dream goal. © Soren Stache/dpa
The birthday boy took a back pass from Tolga Cigerci (30) from around 25 meters in a central position with the left adhesive and nailed the imitation leather unsustainably in the right angle to the lower edge of the crossbar!
This absolute dream goal apparently finally woke the old lady from hibernation and released new strength among players and fans, who of course celebrated the wonderful goal frenetically, as did proud Papa Pal Dardai (46) in the stands.
“Starting XI, goal and three points – I can’t imagine a better birthday than that,” said a happy Marton after the end of the game. The genuine Hertha boy owed his use in the starting lineup primarily to a system change by coach Sandro Schwarz (44).
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He maintained the course he had taken in the Frankfurt game at half-time and this time relied on a three-man defense from the start.
With success as shown on Sunday 4:1 win against Borussia Mönchengladbach showed. And Schwarz really showed a golden touch with his changes. Both the changes in the starting formation and the substitutions in the game itself led to something countable.
Jessic Ngankam (22, left) and Derry Scherhant (20) were two more academy players who scored for Hertha BSC on Sunday. © Soeren Stache/dpa (image montage)
In addition to the 2-1 shooter Dardai, the coach relied on Jessic Ngankam (22) in the 3-5-2 from the start and the striker thanked him with the important equalizer.
Because the game started badly again for the Spree-Athenians. The blue and whites fell behind once again after a set piece. Central defender Nico Elvedi (26) gilded a corner from ex-Hertha player Luca Netz (19) to give the foals the lead.
At the latest after Dardai’s dream goal, the home side were finally on top and Schwarz brought two more goalscorers off the bench in the course of the game with Dodi Lukebakio (25) and Derry Scherhant (20).
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In injury time, Scherhant first fulfilled his dream of “scoring a goal in the Olympic Stadium” before the Belgian made it 4-1 from eleven yards.
And a closer look at the goal scorers reveals another pattern: there were three kickers from the in-house academy who shot the blue and whites onto the road to victory, which should make President Kay Bernstein (42) particularly happy, who after manager Fredi Bobic ( 51) announced a Hertha way.
The first step on this rocky path has now been taken and with the three against Gladbach, the capital club even left the direct relegation zone after a long time. Now it is time to confirm this performance next Sunday (5:30 p.m. / DAZN). However, the Herthaners then see themselves with that BVB one of the teams of the hour in a difficult away game.