On the way to the Olympiastadion yesterday the TV in underground train had a report about Hertha’s Davie Selke. It made reference to the length of time since he last scored (667 minutes of playing time) and that he would break the goal drought against the beleaguered FC Koln. We lived in hope as we arrived at the stadium on a day that was not quite as pleasant as the weather forecasters had us believe.
There was I in my shirt and shorts as drizzle started to fall on fans standing outside at a bar before the game. I for one was hoping Pal Dardai’s plan for the game ran more smoothly than clothing choices for the day!
There was I in my shirt and shorts as drizzle started to fall on fans standing outside at a bar before the game. I for one was hoping Pal Dardai’s plan for the game ran more smoothly than clothing choices for the day!
| After a little pyro display from the listing Köln fans the game started well enough with an attacking formation of 4.4.2 with both Ibisevic and Selke up front. |  |
There were some early chances coming Hertha’s way with one in the opening seconds where Selke kicked the ball downwards and Kalou managed to get in a diving shot on the volley which was only saved by Timo Horn’s fingertips.
Then, just before the half hour mark, it was our hearts doing the Titanic again. Positional errors and lack of speed from Mitchel Weiser saw Bittencourt onside and charging towards goal with our right back in pursuit. He didn’t make it in fact he came closer to taking out Jarstein and the ball ended up in out net. Both the team and the crowd were taken aback by this, even for Hertha, unexpected turn of events. It took a while and the half time break to bring back Hertha fighting.
The defensive mistake was replaced by Matthew Leckie and the feel of the game changed from the subdued period before half time. The breakthrough came just a few minutes after the restart in the 49th minute when a poor clearance from the Köln defence fell to Marvin Plattenhardt who crossed the ball to the goal starved Davie Selke who crashed the ball into the net breaking what was by now a 716 minute goal drought. Relief and jubilation in equal measure spread through the crowd like a forest fire in pure Oxygen. The second and ultimately the winning goal followed a similar format with Plattenhardt putting in a cross and Selke being there to confidently put it away to claim a brace for the club and secure Hertha’s 1000th home goal with one swing of the boot. Here we were in mid April and this was the first home victory of 2018 and 122 days. Hertha fans are patient souls, they have to be.
So, Davie Selke said he would score against Köln before the game and he was true to his word.
Then, just before the half hour mark, it was our hearts doing the Titanic again. Positional errors and lack of speed from Mitchel Weiser saw Bittencourt onside and charging towards goal with our right back in pursuit. He didn’t make it in fact he came closer to taking out Jarstein and the ball ended up in out net. Both the team and the crowd were taken aback by this, even for Hertha, unexpected turn of events. It took a while and the half time break to bring back Hertha fighting.
The defensive mistake was replaced by Matthew Leckie and the feel of the game changed from the subdued period before half time. The breakthrough came just a few minutes after the restart in the 49th minute when a poor clearance from the Köln defence fell to Marvin Plattenhardt who crossed the ball to the goal starved Davie Selke who crashed the ball into the net breaking what was by now a 716 minute goal drought. Relief and jubilation in equal measure spread through the crowd like a forest fire in pure Oxygen. The second and ultimately the winning goal followed a similar format with Plattenhardt putting in a cross and Selke being there to confidently put it away to claim a brace for the club and secure Hertha’s 1000th home goal with one swing of the boot. Here we were in mid April and this was the first home victory of 2018 and 122 days. Hertha fans are patient souls, they have to be.
So, Davie Selke said he would score against Köln before the game and he was true to his word.
A short video clip showing the support firstly before the game and then afterwards when fans and team celebrate the long anticipated home victory.
Just a bit of fun with time lapse filming after the game . . .
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