Youssoufa Moukoko caps routine Borussia Dortmund win over Hertha Berlin
Sixteen-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko scored his third Bundesliga goal as Borussia Dortmund climbed to fifth in the Bundesliga table with a comfortable 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Hertha Berlin.
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Brandt (54'), 2-0 Moukoko (90'+1)
Red card: Darida (80')
Erling Haaland had scored braces in his previous two competitive outings, but it was Marco Reus who might have had a double of his own in a largely one-sided first half. Not long after shinning a very presentable volley high and wide, the Dortmund captain clipped the top of Rune Jarstein's goal frame with a devilish free-kick. Reus turned provider for Haaland in the 22nd minute, but the 20-year-old failed to land his attempted header on target. Hertha's only chance of note came very much against the run of play as Maximillian Mittelstädt put a Deyovaisio Zeefuik free-kick he knew very little about wide. Jarstein made the only save, albeit a very important one to deny English teenager Jude Bellingham's stinging first-time strike.
Dortmund picked up where they left off after the restart, deservedly forging ahead with 54 minutes on the clock. Haaland won a header in his own half and found Julian Brandt, who continued his run. After collecting from Reus around 30 yards out, the Germany international took a touch into the open space and unleashed a vicious swerving strike that completely deceived Jarstein in the Hertha goal. Jarstein was beaten again on the hour, but Mahmoud Dahoud's deflected cross bounced off the crossbar and behind. Jarstein pulled off a superb reaction save to deny Emre Can, before Vladimir Darida was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge on Reus. Having not long set up fellow teen substitute Gio Reyna for a shot against the post, Moukoko compounded Hertha's misery in injury time, finishing past Jarstein at his near-post to leave the Old Lady above the relegation play-off spot on goal difference alone.
Match stats
- Only Haaland (19) and Jadon Sancho (six) have scored more Bundesliga goals for Dortmund this season than Moukoko.
- Moukoko's strike was his first in Dortmund. He is the club's 250th substitute goalscorer.
- Dortmund are unbeaten in eight home matches in all competitions under interim coach Edin Terzic, winning five.
- Brandt has scored more goals against Hertha than any other club he's faced - six.
- Pal Dardai has faced Dortmund 12 times as a coach, winning one, drawing four and losing seven. He has only suffered that many defeats at the hands of Bayern Munich (seven).
Watch: Brandt: "I've got a relatively good feeling about a top-four finish"
Line-ups
Dortmund: Hitz - Morey (Meunier 71'), Can, Hummels (Zagadou 58'), Schulz - Brandt, Bellingham, Dahoud - Reus (c) (Moukoko 84'), Haaland, Hazard (Reyna 71')
Unused subs: Bürki, Delaney, Reinier, Piszczek, Passlack
Out: Akanji (muscular), Guerreiro (calf), Sancho (thigh), Schmelzer (knee), Witsel (Achilles' tendon)
Coach: Edin Terzic
Hertha: Jarstein - Klünter, Stark (c), M. Dardai, Plattenhardt (Lukebakio 59') - Zeefuik (Leckie 59'), Tousart, Darida, Mittelstädt - Piatek (Alderete 82'), Cordoba (Dilrosun 68')
Unused subs: Schwolow, Pekarik, Torunarigha, Netz, Michelbrink
Out: Ascacibar (unconfirmed), Boyata (foot), Cunha (thigh), Guendouzi (unconfirmed), Khedira (calf), Radonjic (groin)
Coach: Pal Dardai
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