Dodi Lukebakio's late penalty earns Hertha Berlin crucial victory over Augsburg

A late Dodi Lukebakio penalty earned Hertha Berlin three points and some much-needed breathing room above the relegation zone after Laszlo Benes and Kryzstof Piatek had exchanged blows in a 2-1 win for the Old Lady over Augsburg.

Hertha Berlin 2-1 Augsburg
Goals: 0-1 Benes (2'), 1-1 Piatek (62'), 2-1 Lukebakio (pen. 89')

The hosts' hopes of ending a nine-game winless streak were dealt an early blow as the guests struck after only a minute. Hertha did not clear the danger after a cross from the right and Benes was teed up by Andre Hahn for a sweeping left-foot volley past Rune Jarstein. Jhon Cordoba, back in action for the first time since Matchday 18, endeavoured to bring Berlin back on terms, first firing in from a tight angle before turning dangerously to create space for another shot, though each time he was denied by Rafal Gikiewicz. A Deyovaisio Zeefuik header also tested Gikiewicz, who was becoming the busier of the two goalkeepers and had to make a fine save with his right leg to deny Santiago Ascacibar. Most of the action was being played out in front of the Augsburg goal, but the best chance came at the other end with Florian Niederlechner hitting the post with a stooping header.

Hertha nearly started the second half the way Augsburg had the first, but Gikiewicz was decisive again in turning Cordoba's low drive away with a strong right hand. There was nothing the last line of the Augsburg defence could do to keep out a powerful header by Piatek, which brought the hosts level on the hour mark, though. Vladimir Darida supplied the assist for the sixth time this season, looping a cross back for the Pole to head in with aplomb. Niederlechner had Augsburg's best chances to regain the lead as the Bavarians, after weathering the storm, began to assert themselves on the game once again. Yet it was the hosts who squandered the next opportunity to snatch victory when Lukebakio sent a free header wide of Gikiewicz's post, though he was given the opportunity to make amends from the penalty spot when Lucas Tousart went down in the box. The Belgian duly stroked the ball home to secure a win that puts three points between Hertha and the relegation zone.

Match stats

• Benes scored his first goal for Augsburg and only his second career Bundesliga goal. His first also came against a Hertha side coached by Pal Dardai, for Borussia Mönchengladbach in April 2017.
• It was only the third goal Augsburg have scored inside the first 15 minutes of a match this season.
• Piatek has now scored in each of the three games he has played against Augsburg.
• The Pole is Hertha's top scorer this season with six goals, together with Mattheus Cunha.
• Lukebakio scored from the spot after Cunha and Piatek had missed Hertha's previous penalties.
• Augsburg have never won at Hertha’s Olympic Stadium (D4, L5).

Line-ups

Hertha: Jarstein - Klünter, Stark (c), M. Dardai - Zeefuik (Lukebakio 65'), Ascacibar (Guendouzi 46'), Tousart (Alderete 90'+1), Mittelstädt (Netz 46') - Darida (Löwen 85') - Piatek, Cordoba
Unused subs: Schwolow, Pekarik, Leckie, Plattenhardt
Out: Boyata (foot), Cunha (thigh), Dilrosun (knee), Khedira (calf), Radonjic (groin)
Coach: Pal Dardai
 
Augsburg: Gikiewicz - Framberger, Gouweleeuw (c), Uduokhai, Pedersen - Strobl, Khedira (Vargas 89') - Caligiuri, Benes (Richter 74'), Hahn (Sarenren Bazee 90') – Niederlechner (Gregoritsch 83')
Unused subs: Koubek, Gumny, Suchy, Gruezo, Oxford
Out: Civeja (knee), Finnbogason (calf), Iago (ankle), Jensen (thigh)
Coach: Heiko Herrlich

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