Hertha BSC were clear favourites in this 2nd round of the DFB Cup at fourth-division side Preußen Münster – and after a very good start, found it extremely difficult for a long time. Even when they were outnumbered. It was only the strong jokers that earned the Old Lady a 3:1 win in the end and thus a ticket to the last 16 in regular time.
With a 2-1 win in Bonn, Münster had moved up to fourth place in the Regionalliga West last weekend. The highlight of the season, however, came in the 2nd round of the DFB Cup – but in front of more than 10,000 spectators at the Preußenstadion, of all places, the Eagles got off to the worst possible start. The underdogs initially let favourites Hertha BSC play them up against the wall for several minutes, including the 0:1: After a fine Selke pass, fellow striker Jovetic successfully pushed home a full-stretch shot (3rd).
As time went on, however, the Old Lady, who dominated for long stretches and had recently recorded their fourth win from the last six league games in the German top flight with a 1-0 win over Gladbach, let the fourth-division team come more and more into their own. Pal Dardai’s players, such as defender Gechter, playmaker Ekkelenkamp and driving force Jastrzembski, who could be recommended for the Bundesliga starting eleven, repeatedly failed to gain a foothold against Sascha Hildmann’s team.
Münster come back – and weaken themselves
This took its revenge as the lively Teklab, in particular, got things moving and brought his colours ever closer to 1:1. And in minute 41 the equaliser was to come – with a good deal of extra will on the part of the hosts. First, Langlitz had failed to hit the post from an acute angle after a great pass from Teklab. But then the ball came back into the centre of the penalty area, where Deters was in the right place and shot past the Berlin defenders. Why should the Münster team go to the catacombs with their heads hanging low? Because midfielder Remberg, the only player to have been cautioned so far, clumsily attempted a swallow in the penalty area just before the break – and was harshly punished by referee Frank Willenborg with a yellow card (45.+1).
Belfodil and Richter solve the ticket
But with the restart, the Capitals could hardly capitalise on their superior number, they did not regain full control of the game. At least Joker Richter (57th) and Zeefuik, who despaired of SCP keeper Schulze Niehues (70th), came close.
The Eagles deserved great praise and wide recognition in this phase even more than they already did. However, Münster simply ran out of steam – and the individually better Hertha jokers took advantage of that. The lurking Belfodil slid in easily after Tousart’s shot and Schulze Niehues’ save to make it 2-1 (79th), before Richter marked the decisive 3-1 only a short time later (83rd). With the last grit, the Prussians tested Berlin’s goalkeeper Schwolow a few times, but they could not even manage the 2:3.
Hertha are now in the cup round of sixteen, which will take place next Sunday. Münster, who are fourth in the league, will now play Schalke II in the Regionalliga West on Friday (7 pm). The Herthans take on 1899 Hoffenheim on Friday (8.30 pm).
