Big 6-1 away win over Hertha BSC
Henrichs opens the scoring | Jovetic with equaliser in second half | Nkunku brace, Olmo, Haidara and Poulsen score to secure big win
RB Leipzig rounded off Matchday 23 in the Bundesliga with a 6-1 win against Hertha BSC in the capital. Benjamin Henrichs (20’), Christopher Nkunku (64’ pen, 67’), Dani Olmo (74’), Amadou Haidara (81’) and Yussuf Poulsen (88’) were on the scoresheet for Domenico Tedesco’s side. Hertha’s only goal came through Stefan Jovetic in the 48th minute to tie the game. The three points see Leipzig maintain fourth position and their place in the Champions League running.
RB Leipzig enjoyed a strong start to the game and managed to pin the home side in their own half. The first good chance of the game came in the 9th minute, when Nordi Mukiele linked up with Christopher Nkunku but saw his shot go just wide of the post. Shortly after, Yussuf Poulsen fed Benjamin Henrichs down the left. His initial shot was saved by Hertha goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, but the full back made no mistake with the rebound, his first-time shot finding the back of the net via a deflection (20’). Seven minutes later, Schwolow was in action again to push Dominik Szoboszlai’s direct free kick behind for a corner. The first moment of danger for the hosts came via Jovetic, whose free kick was no problem for Péter Gulácsi (36’), and Tedesco’s side went into the break with a deserved lead.
Hertha were livelier to begin the second half and equalised through Jovetic in the 48th minute. Just moments later, the Hertha forward shot over the bar (49’) and then had another effort saved by Gulácsi (54’). The game completely changed in the 62nd minute. Nkunku was played through into the penalty area and was brought to ground from behind by Marc-Oliver Kempf. The defender was shown a red card and Leipzig were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Christo himself (64’). A few minutes later, Christo had the ball in the net again, turning home a Dani Olmo cross from close range (67’). In the 74th minute, Olmo also got among the goals. Fellow substitute André Silva’s shot was saved by Schwolow, but the Spanish midfielder smashed the rebound into the roof of the net. The goals didn’t stop there. Amadou Haidara scored his third goal of the season, powering a Tyler Adams layoff into the far corner from outside the area (81’). Yussuf Poulsen rounded off the scoring in fine fashion; receiving a through ball from Olmo, the Dane beat the onrushing goalkeeper to dink the ball over the line and into the back of the net. For the second time this season, the Red Bulls put six goals past the Old Lady.
Statistics:
HERTHA BSC:
Schwolow - Pekarik, Gechter, Kempf, Björkan - Tousart, Ascacibar - Richter, Darida - Belfodil, Jovetic (70' Maolida)
Unused subs: Lotka, Selke, Röcker, Atemona, Albrecht, Kade
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi - Simakan (46' Klostermann), Orban, Gvardiol - Mukiele, Haidara, Forsberg (60' Laimer), Henrichs (80' Adams) - Nkunku (70' Silva), Szoboszlai (60' Olmo) - Poulsen
Unused subs: Martínez, Tschauner, Novoa, Kampl
REFEREE:
Patrick Ittrich (Hamburg)
YELLOW CARDS:
Richter (25'), Ascacibar (84') - Gvardiol (34')
RED CARDS:
Kempf (62')
GOALS:
1-0 Henrichs (20'), 1-1 Jovetic (48'), 2-1 Nkunku (64'), 3-1 Nkunku (67'), 4-1 Olmo (74'), 5-1 Haidara (81'), 6-1 Poulsen (88')
ATTENDANCE:
10,000 | Olympiastadion
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Underway at the Olympiastadion! Let's go, boys!
5th minute:
Leipzig are controlling the game early on, with the home side sitting back.
9th minute:
The first good chance! The Red Bulls move the ball quickly with few touches. Nkunku plays in Mukiele down the right, but his shot fizzes across the face of goal.
20th minute, GOAL for Leipzig!
Poulsen is played in by Szoboszlai in the area. After some good work to keep off defenders, he plays left to Henrichs, who is in space. Benny's first shot is well saved by Schwolow, but the rebound is deflected and finds the back of the net!
26th minute:
That’s Benny’s second goal of the season. On matchday 15 he scored with his right foot, today with his left.
27th minute:
Szoboszlai tries a direct free kick from 25 metres. The Hungarian's shot is deflected off the wall and a diving Schwolow is extra safe, pushing it away for a corner.
36th minute:
Jovetic treis his luck from a direct free kick. No problem for Gulácsi.
41st minute:
RBL look for a second. The next opportunity sees Henrichs' low cross cleared behind for another corner.
44th minute:
Hertha cross into the area from the right. Richter meets it, but his header is past the post.
Half time:
A deserved one-goal lead at the break. Tedesco’s side are playing in control of the game and have come close to a second goal. At the other end, it’s been relatively quiet for Pete. More of the same after the break!
Second half highlights:
46th minute:
One change at the break. Klostermann is on for Simakan.
48th minute, goal for Hertha:
Hertha hit on the counter! Jovetic drives forward through the middle. Nobody can dispossess him and he shoots from the edge of the area. With the help of a slight deflection, its past Pete and into the bottom corner.
49th minute:
Jovetic! Hertha attack quickly again. Richter plays the ball into the centre the Montenegrin volleys over the bar.
52nd minute:
Szoboszlai has space and cuts into the middle from the left, before hitting a powerful effort, but it’s wide of the far post.
54th minute:
Jovetic toubles again! The number 19's shot from the edge of the box is saved by Gulácsi the hosts have a corner.
60th minute:
Double change for RBL: Olmo and Laimer come on for Szoboszlai and Forsberg.
62nd minute:
Penalty to Leipzig! Christo is sent into the penalty area by Olmo. Kempf tries to dispossess our top scorer but brings him down. He is shown the red card.
64th minute, GOOAAAL for Leipzig!
Nkunku steps up and converts the penalty – low and hard into the left corner.
65th minute:
That was Christo’s first penalty in the Bundesliga.
67th minute, GOOOOAL for Leipzig!
Christo strikes again! Mukiele finds Poulsen from the right, who sends it back to the wing to Olmo. He hits the ball across goal, where Nkunku finishes from close range to make it 3-1.
70th minute
Nkunku leaves the field for a well-earned rest. Silva replaces him.
74th minute, GOOOALL for Leipzig!
Silva gets the ball on the left of the area. His shot is parried by Schwolow, and Olmo collects, dummies a shot before firing it into the roof of the net. 4-1!
80th minute:
Adams comes on for Henrichs.
81st minute, GOOOAAL for Leipzig
Adams lays off Haidara on the edge of the area. He strikes it first time and it rockets into the top left corner – that’s five!
84th minute:
Yellow card for Ascacíbar. He was originally shown a red card for his slide tackle on Poulsen, but referee Ittrich changed his mind after a VAR review.
88th minute, GOOAL for Leipzig!
What a finish!! Olmo slips it through the Hertha defence to find Yussi. He gets to the ball first and chips it over Schwolow. What a goal!
Full time
A more-than-deserved three points! A fantastic second half blows 10-man Hertha away for a big 6-1 win in the capital.