- Regardless of the fluctuation, Hertha secures victory in Rostock.
Lower-tier team Hertha BSC scored a decisive 5-1 victory over demoted Hansa Rostock to proceed to the next stage of the DFB-Pokal. Playing away at Ostseestadion, Rostock, Hertha took the early lead through Derry Scherhant (38'). After the break, Albin Berisha equalized for Rostock (46'). Ibrahim Maza (66'), Marten Winkler (75'), and Florian Niederlechner (85', 88') then sealed the victory for Hertha. Despite the fiery competition between the two supporter groups, the game remained conflict-free.
Hertha had control over the ball but struggled to convert chances due to Rostock's robust defense. Scherhant's opener was the result of a well-executed free-kick by Jonjoe Kenny, with the ball eventually finding its way to Scherhant, who scored with a tidy turn and shot, leaving Rostock's Max Hagemoser powerless.
Gersbeck's mistake boosts Rostock's spirit
Hertha goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck unintentionally gifted Rostock the opportunity for an upset right after the break. Instead of passing to a teammate, the 29-year-old goalkeeper passed the ball directly to Rostock's Albin Berisha, who had a simple tap-in to equalize.
Rostock gained momentum, continuously attacking while Hertha took time to regroup. Maza scored the second goal for Hertha with a brilliant finish after a precise one-two with Deyovaisio Zeefuik (66'). Haris Tabakovic struck the crossbar in the 74th minute, but Winkler made no mistakes a minute later. Substitute Niederlechner added two late goals to seal the victory (85', 88').
The commentators expressed their surprise after Gersbeck's mistake, stating that it suddenly boosted Rostock's spirit. This mistake, the following is added: Gersbeck inadvertently passed the ball to Berisha, providing Rostock with a simple opportunity to equalize.
