Hertha Berlin's impressive winning run continues
Hertha Berlin head into the international break on the back of a perfect start to the season, much to the delight of their expectant fanbase. Even closely contested matches are currently panning out successfully for the capital club.
The Bundesliga 2 leaders got off to a shaky start at Dynamo Dresden, conceding a goal after just ten minutes. The Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion was buzzing, and an uncomfortable evening looked on the cards for the Berliners.
But this current team is made of sterner stuff than previous incarnations and, unfazed by the setback, they continued playing in the confident style they have demonstrated since the beginning of the season to turn the result around. "We were fantastic in the second half," said head coach Stefan Leitl after the match. "We were very brave and really dominant, and we created plenty of chances. I'm very pleased."
Hertha's determined and ultimately well-deserved 2-1 victory in Saxony is the second tricky away encounter in a row that they have managed to successfully negotiate, following their 3-1 win in Osnabrück on Matchday 5. Naturally, the boisterous group of travelling fans present in Dresden began belting out their tongue-in-cheek "100-point" chant again.
Watch: Dynamo Dresden 1-2 Hertha Berlin - highlights
Unbeaten Hertha now have 18 points from six matches, extending their own club record for the best start to a season in the process. Only two clubs in Bundesliga 2 history have achieved better in that statistical category: Bayer Leverkusen impressively won their first nine matches in the 1978/79 season, while Hannover picked up maximum points from their first eight fixtures in 1986/87.
Judging by the Old Lady's recent performances, these seemingly untouchable records could feasibly be within reach. Not even the sight of Gustaf Nilsson somehow scooping the ball over the bar from right in front of the Dresden goal, or of referee Christian Dingert announcing that Oluwaseun Adewumi's 'goal' had been disallowed for handball, could dampen the team's spirits on Saturday evening.
In the end, Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson was the hero of the hour, scoring two excellent goals and further fuelling the euphoria surrounding the club right now.
A home match versus Greuther Fürth, where Hertha will be gunning for a remarkable seventh consecutive win, is next up after the international break.
