Wout Weghorst strikes as Wolfsburg make it two wins from two with victory at Hertha Berlin
Hertha Berlin asked most of the questions, but Wolfsburg had the answers as Wout Weghorst, Josip Brekalo and Jerome Roussillon earned them a 3-0 win in the capital in the final Matchday 2 fixture on Sunday.
Hertha Berlin 0-3 Wolfsburg
Goal: 0-1 Weghorst (pen. 9'), 0-2 Brekalo (83'), 0-3 Roussillon (90+1')
Hertha thought they had an early opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty following a tackle by Josuha Guilavogui on Ondrej Duda after 15 seconds, but referee Guido Winkmann overturned his initial decision after consulting the Video Assistant. Instead, it was the visitors who were given a spot-kick minutes later when Felix Klaus was fouled by Karim Rekik, allowing Weghorst to convert from the spot for his second goal of the season. Salomon Kalou headed wide before Marko Grujic saw two quick-fire efforts blocked as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
That push continued into the second half with Dodi Lukebakio and Vedad Ibisevic doing their best to find a way through, and both Davie Selke and 18-year-old debutant Daishawn Redan were sent on to reinforce the Old Lady's attack. The latter almost marked his debut in style with an overhead kick which just missed the target, although he was in an offside position. It was another substitute who made a greater impact, though - albeit for Wolfsburg. Brekalo picked up possession just inside the Hertha half and immediately raced at their defence, duping them with a neat change of direction before driving the ball low into the bottom right-hand corner, before Roussillon fired in a last-minute third to seal Wolfsburg's second successive win this season.
Match stats
- Weghorst has taken five penalties in the Bundesliga and scored every one.
- The Dutch forward has 13 goals in 2019 – only Robert Lewandowski (17) has more in the calendar year.
- Weghorst has seven goals in his last six Bundesliga outings (stretching back to April).
- Brekalo has scored eight Bundesliga goals, five of which coming from the bench.
- Wolfsburg, who claimed a 2-1 win over promoted Cologne on Matchday 1, are unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga meetings with Hertha (two wins, three draws).
- Glasner is the first Wolfsburg coach to have won his first Bundesliga game since Dieter Hecking in January 2013 (2-0 against VfB Stuttgart). His predecessors Valerien Ismael, Andries Jonker, Martin Schmidt and Bruno Labbadia all failed to win their first league game in charge.
Line-ups
Hertha: Jarstein – Klünter, Stark, Rekik, Mittelstädt – Grujic, Darida (Selke 61') – Lukebakio, Duda (Löwen 75'), Kalou (Redan 70') – Ibisevic (c)
Unused subs: Kraft, Skjelbred, Esswein, Leckie, Torunarigha, Friede
Out: Plattenhardt (thigh), Boyata (thigh), Dilrosun (thigh), Maier (knee)
Coach: Ante Covic
Wolfsburg: Casteels – Knoche, Guilavogui (c), Brooks – William, Schlager (Gerhardt 83'), Arnold, Roussillon – Klaus (Mehmedi 63'), Weghorst, Victor (Brekalo 76')
Unused subs: Pervan, Bruma, Steffen, Mbabu, Nmecha, Tisserand
Out: Camacho (ankle), Ginczek (back), Otavio (match fitness)
Coach: Oliver Glasner
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