Suat Serdar and Myziane Maolida get Hertha off the mark

Bochum 1-3 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Serdar (37’), 0-2 Serdar (43’), 1-2 Zoller (59’), 1-3 Maolida (78')

In Sunday’s second match, Hertha, rooted to the foot of the table, appeared determined not to let any further points slip past them when they travelled to taken on Bochum. Pal Dardai’s men battled hard and put in tough tackles to keep their opponents at bay. Bochum had more joy and looked dangerous through Gerrit Holtmann and the very lively Elvis Rexhbecaj. However, it was the visiting fans who would be the first to celebrate. Against the run of play, Serdar collected the ball in midfield and powered past three Bochum defenders before dispatching a curling shot past the keeper and into the net. The goal was his first of the season, and his first in a Hertha shirt. He didn’t have to wait long for his second, as Bochum failed to clear their lines following a throw-in and the ball fell to Serdar, who hammered a shot past the keeper at the near post. The half ended with The Old Lady holding an unexpected 2-0 lead.

Dardai was forced to make changes at half time, with Jordan Torunarigha coming off with an injury and Dennis Jastrzembski also making way. Their replacements were Maximilian Mittelstädt and 17-year-old Linus Gechter, Hertha’s second youngest ever player. Bochum continued to press as they had done in the first half, and Holtmann was once again the danger man. The winger used his pace to burst down the left flank before playing the ball through the legs of Dedryck Boyata and powering a shot that Alexander Schwolow could only deflect into the path of the on-rushing Simon Zoller, who made no mistake. With Bochum threatening to find an equalizer, Kevin-Prince Boateng came on to shore up Hertha's resistance. They did more that that as debutant substitute Maolida cut through the stretched Bochum defense to score Hertha's third and make the result all but certain. Bochum fought until the end, but could not find a way back into the game. Hertha fans celebrated a vital win and could breathe a sigh of relief, having seen their team climb off the bottom of the league table.

• Serdar’s opener was Hertha’s first goal from open play this season.
• Maolida made 63 appearances for former club Nice, registering five goals and seven assists.
• Zoller has been directly involved in Bochum’s four Bundesliga goals so far this season, scoring two and assisting two.
• Bochum conceded three goals today, as many as they had in the previous three matchdays combined.
• With three straight losses, Hertha had made their worst ever start to a Bundesliga season. This win takes them from 18th to 15th place.
• Hertha have won nine of 12 Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 meetings with Bochum, losing just once.

Watch: Suat Serdar commends dogged team performance

Bochum: Riemann - Stafylidis (Bockhorn 82'), Lampropoulos, Bella-Kotchap (Decarli 82'), Soares - Losilla (c) (Tesche 63'), Löwen, Rexhbecaj - Zoller (59'), Polter, Holtmann (Antwi-Adjei 82')
Unused subs: Esser, Masovic, Osterhage, Novothny, Pantovic
Out: Asano (groin), Gamboa (elbow), Leitsch (muscular)
Coach: Thomas Reis 

Hertha: Schwolow - Stark, Boyata (c), Torunarigha (Mittelstädt 46') - Klünter, Tousart, Darida, Jastrzembski (Gechter 46') - Richter (Maolida 57' (78')), Serdar (37', 43') - Belfodil (Boateng 73')
Unused subs: Christensen, Pekarik, Zeefuik, Ekkelenkamp, Ascacibar
Out: M. Dardai (ankle), Jarstein (match fitness), Jovetic (calf), Piatek (ankle), Plattenhardt (groin), Selke (ribs)
Coach: Pal Dardai