With the third victory one after the other, Hertha BSC prevented the return of the 1st FC Köln to the top of the table of the 2nd Bundesliga and made the Rhineland a damper in the promotion struggle.
After two defeats against the Rhinelanders, the Berlin won the third game on Saturday evening with 1-0 (0-0) and got rid of the greatest relegation worries.
The Cologne team, previously three times victorious in the league, continued to be in second place with 50 points, the Berliners initially improved to eleven with 35 points. In front of 50,000 spectators in the Rhine Energy Stadium, Fabian Reese (46th) achieved the winning goal for the guests.
Maza only hits the post
In the very intensive game, the Berliners, well -positioned by coach Stefan Leitl, were looking for their chance right from the start and, after Martin Winkler (16th minute), who struck the ball completely freely, through Ibrahim Maza. But the Algerian international failed after a fine pass from Reese to FC goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe and the outdoor post.
The previously in nine competitive games in front of their own audience, on the other hand, had a hard time. Only a shot from Eric Martel (27th), who just put past the left post, brought greater danger in front of the Hertha goal.
The strong Reese then achieved the deserved Berlin leadership with a dream goal from the right edge of the penalty area into the left goal angle. It was his sixth goal in the past four games, his seventh overall in the twelfth season.
