Monday, May 03, 2021
Draw in Mainz
Hertha does not move at the restart
Hertha BSC has to make up for three Bundesliga games due to a corona outbreak. The prelude to the final spurt is not a furious starting gun for catching up. Due to a draw in Mainz, the Berliners remain penultimate in the Bundesliga.
After the only partially successful return from the two-week corona quarantine, the professionals from Hertha BSC formed a large circle and encouraged each other on the lawn to continue catching up in the Bundesliga. With the respectable 1: 1 (1: 1) in the catch-up game of the 29th matchday at FSV Mainz 05, the table penultimate moved up to two points on 1. FC Köln on the relegation place and can only be with a win on Thursday against SC Freiburg once to reach the saving shore.
“I brought them together again, I don’t do that otherwise. I praised them,” said coach Pal Dardai on TV channel Sky after the final whistle in his address to the professionals and was very satisfied. “You can build on this game. More than I expected,” was the verdict of the Hungarian. Lucas Tousart gave the guests the lead in the 36th minute, which Phillipp Mwene (40th) equalized before the break. With 35 points, Mainz remains in twelfth place eight points ahead of its rivals from the capital.
“It showed that not everything is going well, but that we were on the pitch as a team and fighting,” said Sami Khedira about the Hertha appearance and saw a small step in the right direction. After the most recent 2-1 coup against record champions Bayern Munich, Mainz coach Bo Svensson surprisingly changed his starting line-up to four positions. Despite the personal castling, the home side dominated the game from the start and had the first chance early on from Stefan Bell (5th), whose header just missed the target. Shortly afterwards, Jean-Paul Boetius had the lead twice. First the Dutchman forgave from close range, then he just hit the crossbar.
Mainz is “rather disappointed”
The two-week quarantine, in which only individual training was possible, was noted for the Berliners. Against the aggressive Mainz team, the penultimate table, in whom ex-world champion Khedira was back in the starting line-up for the first time since the end of February, initially only rarely made it forward. The Mainz team had great opportunities. Adam Szalai (20th) failed free in front of the goal against Hertha keeper Alexander Schwolow, who brilliantly represented Rune Jarstein, who was suffering from Corona.
“I’m rather disappointed when I see the first half,” said Szalai of the draw. The FSV seemed to be in control of the situation, but was then caught freezing. After a free kick from the coach’s son Marton Dardai, Tousart headed for the Berlin team. And it almost got better. Matheus Cunha (39.) suddenly appeared free in front of hundredweight, but could not overcome the Mainz goalkeeper. That took immediate revenge when Mwene equalized just a minute later with a magnificent 20-meter shot into the corner. It was the Austrian’s first Bundesliga goal. “I would like to score more goals so that we can stay out of the league,” said Mwene.
After the change, Hertha conquered more game shares. The Mainz offensive was initially pretty fallow, while the guests played more courageously forward. However, it was only a standard that resolved the rigidity in the penalty rooms. After a corner, FSV captain Moussa Niakhaté screwed the highest, but Schwolow parried the header just as brilliantly as a shot from Karim Onisiwo a little later from an acute angle. Now there was more going on in the game. Cunha checked Zentner in the Mainz goal with a flick, then substitute Krzystof Piatek missed the possible second Hertha goal from close range (82nd).
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