“That’s an impudence” – Hertha wrestles down angry Wolfsburg players

League leaders Hertha BSC have underlined their supremacy in the second division with the explosive return of former captain Fabian Reese to Berlin. Coach Stefan Leitl's team defeated Reese and VfL Wolfsburg, who had been outnumbered for a long time, 2-1 (2-0) in the Olympic Stadium.

With seven points ahead of Nuremberg, the undefeated Berliners remain confidently leaders. The lead over Wolfsburg is already twelve points after eleven games. "I'm incredibly proud of this team. The second half wasn't our best, but we pulled it off," said captain Josip Brekalo.

The Berliners determined the game after the red card for Cleiton in the 22nd minute. Oluwaseun Adewumi (44th) and Deyovaisio Zeefuik (45th+2) shot the hosts into the lead in front of a large crowd of 70,928 fans. Kento Shiogai (47th) brought VfL back into the game, but they didn't score again.

Reese was loudly whistled at every action in his first game against Hertha after moving to Lower Saxony in the summer. The transfer had turned many Berlin fans against their former crowd favorite. Hertha coach Leitl relied on Zeefuik as an opponent for Reese. He initially appeared unimpressed by the scenery and fired the ball onto the crossbar shortly after kick-off (2nd minute).

In what was initially an even game with a lot of pace, the balance of power changed after Cleiton was sent off for bringing down Hertha striker Sebastian Grönning as the last man on the edge of the penalty area. After VAR intervened, referee Matthias Jöllenbeck turned the initially awarded penalty into a free kick. The yellow card became red.

The home team now restricted VfL and then struck shortly before the break. Adewumi first scored after Wolfsburg's weak attempt to clear the ball from the backcourt. Then Zeefuik opened his own goal with one of his numerous ball wins - quickly served by Grönning.

Kento Shiogai, who had just come on as a substitute, took advantage of a lapse in the Berlin defense to make it 1-2. On the other hand, Paul Seguin missed from a good position (50th). The Berliners remained the dominant team, but missed a few counterattacks and ultimately had to tremble again in almost ten minutes of stoppage time.

Luckily, Shiogai entered the penalty area and fell after a challenge with Niklas Kolbe. But referee Matthias Jöllenbeck allowed the game to continue despite the contact. The video referee did not intervene either. Much to the displeasure of Wolfsburg, who stormed the referee.

Captain Maximilian Arnold complained: "That's a penalty. That's a wrong decision, that's an impudence." Hertha coach Stefan Leitl took the opposite opinion: "No penalty. 100 percent not. There is no active movement from Kolbe."