Bundesliga

2020-01-25T16:30:00Z

Lukebakio strikes late as Hertha complete Wolfsburg hold-up

Dodi Lukebakio scored a header in the final minute of normal time as Jürgen Klinsmann's Hertha Berlin got the better of a dominant Wolfsburg on Saturday, bouncing back from last weekend's heavy defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg 1-2 Hertha Berlin
Goals: 1-0 Mehmedi (68'), 1-1 Torunarigha (74'), 1-2 Lukebakio (90')

Wolfsburg made a bright start to their first home game of 2020, although they didn't really trouble Rune Jarstein in the opening exchanges – the Hertha defence dealt with Xaver Schlager's rising cross towards Wout Weghorst, before their keeper collected Jerome Roussillon's shot from distance. The best early opportunity fell to Hertha's Marius Wolf, but the Borussia Dortmund loanee failed to connect properly after being picked out by Lukebakio inside the six-yard box. The visitors were limited to half-chances as the Wolves continued to assert their dominance, with captain Josuha Guilavogui almost teeing up Weghorst following a Josip Brekalo free-kick, and then having a go from the edge of the area, forcing Jarstein to make a rather unorthodox save with his knee. Robin Knoche also headed wide and Maximilian Arnold fired off target as the hosts turned the screw, but they were unable to break the deadlock before half-time, despite 10 shots to Hertha's three.

Lukebakio found himself in a shooting position within 20 seconds of the restart, but the Belgian winger, without a goal since early December, screwed his effort into the stands. Renato Steffen then latched onto a brilliant long ball over the top, but Jarstein did very well to block the Switzerland winger's attempt and gather the follow-up from Weghorst. In the end it was another Swiss international who broke the deadlock: five minutes after replacing Brekalo, Admir Mehmedi whipped in a teasing cross that evaded everybody and found its way into the back of the net. Wolfsburg maybe thought they had done enough at that point, but Hertha had other ideas, and Jordan Torunarigha brought them level after towering above Kevin Mbabu and looping a header over Koen Casteels. Jarstein produced several brilliant saves as Wolfsburg pushed for a winner, but it was Lukebakio who stole the three points for Hertha. Just after being denied by a world-class save from Casteels, the Belgian headed over his compatriot in the 90th minute to hand Klinsmann's visitors a rather undeserved but extremely precious victory.

Dodi Lukebakio (l.) looped a header over Koen Casteels (r.) in the final minute of normal time to hand Hertha Berlin an unlikely victory over Wolfsburg.

Match stats

Line-ups

Wolfsburg: Casteels – Mbabu, Tisserand, Knoche, Roussillon – Schlager, Guilavogui (c), Arnold (Ginczek 89') – Steffen (Joao Victor 82'), Weghorst, Brekalo (Mehmedi 63')
Unused subs: Pervan, William, Otavio, Klaus, Gerhardt, Brooks
Out: Camacho (ankle), Pongracic (foot)
Coach: Oliver Glasner

Hertha: Jarstein – Klünter, Stark (c), Torunarigha, Mittelstädt – Skjelbred, Ascacibar – Wolf, Grujic, Dilrosun (Esswein 76') – Lukebakio (Selke 90'+2)
Unused subs: Kraft, Pekarik, Leckie, Köpke, Ibisevic, Plattenhardt
Out:
Boyata (suspended), Darida (cold), Maier (match fitness), Rekik (unspecified)
Coach: Jürgen Klinsmann

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