Kanga winner catches Schalke Knapping
With both teams infamous for having kept a joint-low one clean sheet each this season, a high-scoring encounter was expected to take place at the Olympiastadion. Schalke thought they had taken the lead around the quarter-hour mark, when Marius Bulter volleyed a belter into the far right corner following an inch-perfect cross by Mehmet-Can Aydın, only for the goal to be flagged for an offside during the build-up play, much to the relief of the Hertha faithful. The Schalke players were left gutted once again minutes later, with Bulter once again having a goal ruled out for offside to keep the score level.
Die Alte Dame saw more of the ball thereafter, even coming close to drawing first blood via Stevan Jovetic, who spurned his chance from close range and sent it wide of the right post. In the absence of the recently sacked Frank Kramer, caretaker manager Matthias Kreutzer rallied his Die Knappen troops to not lose focus following their relatively bright start to the game, but he could only do so much from the sidelines, as the game entered the break on a stalemate.
The hosts were off to an ecstatic start to the second period, quickly taking the lead via Lucas Tousart’s sublime half volley from at least 25 yards. Despite conceding, Schalke continued to pressure the hosts, and they finally scored a goal that counted in the 85th minute, thanks to Florent Mollet’s first time effort from the edge of the box. However, Hertha were never going to sit back, especially with the backing of the home faithful, as they struck back just moments before full time from Wilfried Kanga’s first Bundesliga goal. Having struck the framework twice earlier, the Ivorian took full advantage of a defensive mishap and banged home the winner with a composed finish.
Schalke succumbed to a fifth straight defeat, lying at the bottom of the Bundesliga table and in contention for their second relegation in three seasons. Despite it being one of their worst starts to a top-flight campaign in 13 years since their infamous 2009/10 relegation, Sandro Schwarz will be content with Hertha’s result as they moved three points clear of the relegation zone.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Tousart (Hertha Berlin)