All four goals came in the final 25 minutes of the match, with Hertha briefly taking the lead before an André Silva brace and a Martin Hinteregger goal sealed a sixth win in seven Bundesliga matches for the Eagles.
Barkok returns to side
There was just one change from the team that started in the 5-1 win at Arminia Bielefeld on Matchday 18. Erik Durm missed out due to a knee problem so Aymen Barkok was recalled following his one-match suspension.
No way through
The visitors, playing under returning coach Pal Dardai for the first time, made a lively start at a sleety Deutsche Bank Park but Eintracht soon began to dominate proceedings. Their first attempt on goal fell to Evan Ndicka after good interplay between Djibril Sow and Amin Younes, but the defender’s effort from a tight angle was pushed away by Rune Jarstein. The best opportunity came in the 28th minute, when Daichi Kamada wriggled free in the penalty area but saw his shot blocked at close range by the Hertha keeper.
Eintracht continued to knock on the door, with the visitors only having half-chances here and there. As half-time approached, Silva was presented with his first opportunity of the afternoon, bringing down a searching long ball before drawing a fingertip save from Jarstein. Despite the home side having over 60 per cent of possession, the first half ended goalless.
Frantic end
The game initially continued in a similar pattern after the break, with the visitors frustrating the Eagles and denying them any clear-cut opportunities. That was until the hour mark, when Filip Kostic struck the outside of the post. Adi Hütter made a double substitution just after that, with Almamy Touré and Luka Jovic entering the fray, but it was Hertha who broke the deadlock against the run of play in the 66th minute. Eintracht failed to clear the ball from danger and Matheus Cunha laid it off to Krzysztof Piatek, who curled it into the far corner.
The lead lasted just a minute, though, with Kostic once again supplying Silva, who headed in his 15th Bundesliga goal of the season. The game opened up more after that as both sides searched for a winner, although Hertha’s closest attempt was unintentional with Kevin Trapp tipping over Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross. The crucial moment of the game came in the 84th minute, when Hertha only half-cleared a free-kick and Touré’s pinpoint cross was met at the near post by a powerful header from Hinteregger for his first goal of the season. Silva wrapped up the three points with the final kick of the game, slotting away his sixth penalty of the campaign after being fouled on the break.
Summary: Rewarded in the end
Eintracht had to be patient against a battling Hertha side and it was only after the visitors surprisingly took the lead that Adi Hütter’s men managed to find a way past their opponents. Two great headers from two great crosses won it for the Eagles, who continue their excellent form and move up to third in the table – at least for a few hours.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Tuta, Hinteregger, Ndicka – Barkok (Toure 61’), Sow, Hasebe (Rode 76’), Kostic – Kamada (Hrustic 82’), Younes (Jovic 61’) – Silva
Goals
0-1 Piatek (66’)
1-1 Silva (67’)
2-1 Hinteregger (84’)
3-1 Silva (90+5’ pen)
