Hertha BSC missed the hoped-for liberation in the Bundesliga relegation battle. The club from the capital had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 (1-0) against newly promoted VfL Bochum at the start of the 21st match day and, after five competitive games in a row without a win, is still in the crisis.
Attacker Ishak Belfodil (23rd) had put the Berliners, who were only strong in the first half hour, in the lead with a header. Bochum, who had been harmless for a long time, showed a different face in the second half and equalized through “Joker” Sebastian Polter (48th).
Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who fended off a harmless shot from Jürgen Locadia in front of Polter’s feet, helped a lot. “You can’t concede a goal like that today,” complained Marc Oliver Kempf, the new signing from Berlin. “We had promised ourselves more. We didn’t concede more than the goal, so it’s sad that we only have one point,” said the central defender DAZN.
VfL maintained their two-point lead over Hertha in the table.
Of the four newcomers signed in winter, Kempf was immediately in the starting XI at Hertha. The central defender, who came from Stuttgart, is supposed to stabilize the second most vulnerable defense in the league – which Kempf also managed to do over long stretches against VfL.
Bochum coach Thomas Reis replaced his “heart”, as he called captain Anthony Losilla, who was suffering from Corona, with Robert Tesche in defensive midfield. But Losilla was missing from the team, especially in the weak first half.
“It’s important that we are brave, play forward and impose our style of play on the opponent,” Korkut demanded before kick-off. The hosts made a correspondingly powerful start, who had two chances (4th and 5th) for an early lead through Vladimir Darida. Hertha seemed more alert, more aggressive and more willing to run, the 1-0 lead thanks to a well-placed Belfodil header after a cross from Stevan Jovetic was absolutely deserved.
Hertha – Bochum: Polter’s hit stops Berlin’s forward drive
In front of 3,000 spectators, Bochum initially tried to get through to the quick Gerrit Holtmann and Takuma Asano with long balls from their own half. But the Hertha defense was usually on guard. Hertha withdrew a bit as the game went on, but Bochum could hardly do anything with the increased ball possession.
VfL trainer Reis reacted to the deficit and brought fresh energy into the second half – including Polter, who fitted in perfectly with the quick 1-1. The goal gave the guests tailwind, but the Berliners also increased the pressure towards the end of the game.
Hertha BSC – VfL Bochum: The voices
Tayfun Korkut (Hertha BSC coach): “We played a really good first half with a lot of energy and intensity. We had everything under control. We got the equalizer with the only shot on goal. We have to live with that – unfortunately. We have to take our bearings from the first half, then we’ll get our points too.”
Thomas Reis (coach VfL Bochum): “We wanted to take something with us. I wasn’t satisfied with the first half. We lost all the tackles there. Then we made some changes. Because of the second half, the point is not undeserved. I was angry at half-time.”
