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Vedad Ibisevic struck the 17th brace of his Bundesliga career as Hertha beat Hamburger SV 3-0 on Matchday 8 - © © gettyimages / Boris Streubel
Vedad Ibisevic struck the 17th brace of his Bundesliga career as Hertha beat Hamburger SV 3-0 on Matchday 8 - © © gettyimages / Boris Streubel

Ibisevic nets brace as Hertha overcome Hamburg

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Berlin - Vedad Ibisevic scored twice late on as Hertha Berlin beat Hamburger SV 3-0 on home turf on Matchday 8.

Hertha Berlin 3-0 Hamburger SV

Goals: 1-0 Kalou (17'), 2-0 Ibisevic (76'), 3-0 Ibisevic (78')

Looking to bounce back from last week’s narrow defeat to Schalke, Hamburg started positively, with Matthias Ostrzolek an overlapping outlet on the left. The visitors’ early verve was punctured in the 17th minute, however, when Salomon Kalou’s shot arrowed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. HSV took until just before the break to regain their earlier confidence, with Aaron Hunt and Pierre-Michel Lasogga spurning presentable opportunities.

It was Hertha, however, who began the second period more impressively, with Vladimir Darida putting a one-on-one past the post, while Genki Haraguchi’s bending solo effort also came within inches of doubling the lead. While Hamburg pushed for a late winner, the Berliners were content to absorb pressure and play on the break, pouncing twice to victorious effect through Ibisevic late on. The striker poked home from close range for his first, before rounding off a satisfactory afternoon for Pal Dardai’s side with a cool finish on the break.

Man of the match

While Ibisevic was quiet for long periods, outshone by his striking colleague Kalou, the Bosnia-Herzegovina international displayed all of his predatory instincts when it mattered in the closing stages. His first goal was a masterpiece in positioning, while his second a lesson in one-on-one finishing.

Talking point

With 14 points from eight games Hertha sit, temporarily, in the UEFA Champions League places. While the defensive backbone the side showed to stay up last season has been retained into this campaign, Pal Dardai’s side, with Kalou and Ibisevic up front, now carry a genuine goal threat to go with it. It could be an entertaining season in the capital.

Match stats

    Hertha are unbeaten in nine of the last ten home games.Ibisevic’s brace was his 17th in the Bundesliga, and lifted him to four goals for the season.Salomon Kalou’s goal was his first on home turf this season.After going three games unbeaten, Hamburg have now lost the last two.For the first time this season, Hertha began with the same starting line-up as their previous game.

Line-ups

Hertha: Jarstein - Weiser, Stark (Hegeler, 29’), Lustenberger, Plattenhardt - Skjelbred, Darida – Cigerci (Stocker, 82’), Haraguchi – Kalou (Baumjohann, 70’), Ibisevic

HSV: Drobny - Diekmeier, Djourou, Spahic, Ostrzolek (Sakai, 46’) - Diaz (Ilicevic, 62’), Ekdal – Müller (Olic, 74’), Hunt, Holtby - Lasogga