2nd Bundesliga: Hertha BSC wins against VfL Wolfsburg, whistles for returnee Fabian Reese

Hertha BSC clinched their tenth win in their eleventh game of the season. The Berliners defeated promotion rivals VfL Wolfsburg with returnee Fabian Reese 2-1 (2-0) and are now still at the top of the 2nd Bundesliga table with 31 points. Wolfsburg played outnumbered for more than an hour.

The main focus in advance was the return of Fabian Reese. The attacker was a leading figure for Hertha last season and surprisingly moved to VfL Wolfsburg in the summer. The Berlin fans whistled at him every time he touched the ball. Reese obviously had big plans because in the second minute he hit the ball against the crossbar. Hertha keeper Marius Gersbeck saved Robert Glatzel's follow-up shot.

The lively game reached its next highlight in the 20th minute. After a pass from Niklas Kolbe, Sebastian Grønning was up and running and was illegally stopped by Wolfsburg's Brazilian Claiton. Referee Matthias Jöllenbeck initially decided on a penalty and a yellow card. But the video referee intervened, the penalty became a free kick - and the yellow card for emergency braking then turned into a red.

Two goals just before half time

Shortly before half-time, Hertha made their own supporters happy with a double strike: First it was Oluwaseun Adewumi who gave Berlin the lead with a slightly deflected shot (44th). Then it was Deyovaisio Zeefuik who first won the ball in midfield from Reese - and then completed the following attack himself (45th + 2).

After the break, Wolfsburg, somewhat surprisingly, rebelled again. Substitute Kento Shiogai took advantage of a brief confusion in the Hertha penalty area to score the next goal (47'). Should there even be more possible for the team when they are outnumbered?

No. In a hard-fought and hard-fought final phase, Wolfsburg didn't score any more goals. In the 78th minute, Josip Brekalo could have almost scored the preliminary decision, but Saël Kumbedi slid in in dire need and prevented Hertha's third goal.

Shortly before the end, Wolfsburg called for a penalty after a duel between Shiogai and Kolbe in the Berlin penalty area, but referee Jöllenbeck waved it away. It remains a narrow victory for Hertha.