Toxic and heated—but only on the field: Hertha wins in Dresden

Six months after the scandal-plagued match in April—which saw fans storm the field and nearly led to the game being called off at Dynamo—Hertha BSC remained unfazed and continued its winning streak. In a highly intense match at Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, the Berliners secured a 2-1 (1-1) victory and defended their top spot in the 2. Bundesliga ahead of 1. FC Nürnberg. 

However, Hertha fell behind in the 10th minute on a goal by Patrice Covic. Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson (29th) managed to equalize and also scored the winning goal (80th). Dynamo remains second-to-last after its fourth loss in six games. 

The events leading up to the match had consequences—few Hertha fans

The Berliners had expected 700 fans to travel to the away game, but the majority heeded a call for a boycott due to the measures implemented following the riots in last season’s return match. In their section—flanked on the left and right by large buffer zones filled with empty yellow seats—the Hertha supporters who had made the trip looked a bit like they were fighting a losing battle against the overwhelming numbers of Dynamo ultras. A total of 29,122 spectators were in the stadium. 

A Dresden goal-scorer with a special connection to Hertha

The Dresden fans wanted to roar their professionals to victory—but this time without any scandalous incidents like those in early April. Back then, the match was on the verge of being called off; it had been suspended for nearly 20 minutes following pyrotechnic attacks and a pitch invasion. Hertha had won the match 1–0.

This time, the Berliners fell behind. And the goal was scored by the son of Ante Covic, who is still coaching for the capital city club and was once even the first-team coach. The Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion shook. However, the Berliners on the field didn’t let that faze them much. 

Impressively unfazed and visibly bolstered by their perfect start to the season, the visitors pushed further and further into Dresden’s half. Less than half an hour into the game, the moment finally arrived: Thorsteinsson scored from 16 meters. There had been good chances on both sides beforehand.

Dynamo Ultras Launch Poster Attack Against the DFB

It was a game that got quite wild at times, with many fierce challenges—definitely entertaining for a top-tier evening match under the floodlights. The Dresden ultras commented on this with a banner after halftime: “A riot-filled game during prime time?—If the money’s right, you’re ready.” Accompanying this was the DFB logo—outlined in red and crossed out. 

But on the field, Hertha dominated and should have taken the lead through Gustaf Nilsson. From four meters out, however, he lobbed the ball over the empty net. A goal by Oluwaseun Adewumi was disallowed by the video assistant referee. But Dresden also had chances; they just didn’t capitalize on them as ruthlessly as Berlin did in the closing minutes through Thorsteinsson.