Union knock Hertha out of DFB Cup

Goals: 0-1 Voglsammer (assist: Kruse) 11', 0-2 Stark o.g. (50'), 1-2 Khedira o.g. (54'), 1-3 Knoche (assist: Oczipka) 55', 2-3 Serdar (90'+4)

After a bright start which included three shots inside the opening 60 seconds, Union took the lead in the 11th minute when Max Kruse's cross was hooked in on the volley by Andreas Voglsammer, who managed to coordinate himself for the most precise of finishes despite having his back to goal and the ball escaping him on an opposite trajectory. Union looked good value for their lead and thought they were going to have an opportunity to expand it when Voglsammer's cross struck the arm of Niklas Stark and referee Deniz Aytekin awarded a penalty. A VAR review of the attack spotted an offside position, however, and the on-field decision was reversed, much to Hertha's relief. The hosts had struggled to make any headway through Union's high press, and when they did finally find a way through in first-half stoppage time, the offside flag this time came to Union's rescue as Suat Serdar's goal was struck off.

Hertha coach Tayfun Korkut had clearly seen enough and he made two changes at the start of the second half, sending on Peter Pekarik and Myziane Maolida. The early signs were positive when Vladimir Darida squandered an excellent opportunity to level, but instead, it was Union who doubled their lead with their first attack. Levin Öztunali broke free down the right and his cross was turned into his own goal by Stark, under pressure from Voglsammer. Another own goal brought Hertha back into the game, with Serdar's cut-back deflecting in from a tight angle off Rani Khedira. Serdar took the ball straight back to the centre spot, eager to get the game back underway, though Union were in a rush of their own – to restore their two-goal advantage, which they managed within a minute. Knoche was afforded too much room to meet Bastian Oczipka's free-kick completely unmarked and tuck it in from close range, putting them back in command of a pulsating Stadtderby. Serdar did manage to get his goal deep into stoppage time, but it was too little too late for Hertha to avoid elimination.

• Union reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for the second season running, having never been so far since losing the 2001 final to Schalke; Bayer Leverkusen ended their journey in the last eight last year.
• Voglsammer scored for the second game running, having struck against Hoffenheim at the weekend. That goal was his first in almost four months, having last found the back of the net in the Europa Conference League at the end of September.
• Kruse has now provided an assist in all three games Union have played in 2022.
• This was the first ever cup fixture between these two sides.
• Hertha had not played a home domestic cup fixture since 30 October 2019, when they beat Dynamo Dresden 8-7 on penalties.

Line-ups

Hertha: Schwolow – Klünter (Pekarik 46'), Stark (Gechter 58'), Boyata (c), Mittelstädt – Ascacibar (Boateng 75'), Tousart - Richter (Maolida 46'), Darida (Selke 87'), Serdar – Belfodil
Unused subs: Christensen, Ekkelenkamp, Plattenhardt, Dardai
Out: Bjorkan (heel), Jarstein (knee), Jovetic (calf)
Coach: Tayfun Korkut

Union: Luthe – Baumgartl, Knoche, Heintz (Jaeckel 90') – Ryerson (Trimmel 71'), Khedira, Prömel, Oczipka – Öztunali (Haraguchi 65') – Kruse (c) (Becker 71'), Voglsammer (Behrens 65')
Unused subs: Rönnow, Endo, Gießelmann, Möhwald
Out: Awoniyi (Africa Cup of Nations), Van Drongelen (not included)
Coach: Urs Fischer

As it happened!