Hertha 1-2 Freiburg
Goals: 0-1 Lienhart (17'), 1-1 Piatek (70'), 1-2 Petersen (78')

After their heavy 6-0 defeat by RB Leipzig last week Hertha were determined to make amends and, despite sitting back deeply, initially looked threatening going forward. Suat Serdar strode forward in midfield and threaded a superb pass through to Stevan Jovetic, but a last-ditch tackle from Manuel Gulde prevented him from getting a shot away. Jovetic was involved again a short while later with a curling free-kick, but goalkeeper Mark Flekken reacted well to save for a corner. Freiburg gradually grew into the game and took advantage of Hertha’s vulnerability at set-pieces to take the lead from a corner, Philipp Lienhart heading in at the front post from Christian Günter’s delivery. They remained on top for the rest of the half, but were unable to create any further clear-cut chances.

The visitors took their superiority into the second 45 minutes and got behind the Hertha defence two or three times early on, but lacked precision with their final ball. Home coach Pal Dardai made several changes as he plotted a way back into the game, and by the 64th minute he had used up all five substitutes. It proved to be a masterstroke as two of the newcomers combined to equalise, with Maximilian Mittelstädt’s outstanding first-time cross from the left catching Freiburg napping and allowing Kryzsztof Piatek to tap in from close range. Fellow substitute Jurgen Ekkelenkamp hit the bar moments later – a miss that would eventually prove costly. Petersen came off the bench and the Bundesliga’s record substitute goalscorer found the net just 104 seconds later, burying a bicycle kick from close range to put the seal on Freiburg’s fourth win of the campaign.

BSC Hertha BSC Hertha BSC - SCF Freiburg Sport-Club Freiburg

Petersen overhead kick seals Freiburg win