The images of Linus Gechter on the stretcher also moved Fortuna coach Daniel Thioune. “All the best to Linus. He’s a great boy,” said the Düsseldorf coach after his team’s 2-0 (1-0) win in Berlin. The first announcement by Hertha sports director Benjamin Weber and head of the licensing department “Zecke” Neuendorf of a potentially serious shoulder injury almost seemed like a reassurance in view of the long break and the treatment of the Berlin junior national player. Fears of an injury to the central defender’s neck or throat were apparently unfounded.
Gechter’s injury after a collision with his colleague Deyovaisio Zeefuik in the first half was a distressing moment in a very good second division game. Hertha wanted to seize the opportunity to finally achieve a hat-trick of wins in the league after five years. But they failed against the league leaders due to their poor utilization of opportunities and their chronic weakness in defensive set pieces.
Dawid Kownacki (13th minute) and Jona Niemiec (66th minute) scored the goals for the clever guests after free kick crosses in front of 50,135 spectators in the Olympic Stadium. “If we knew why, we would have stopped it already,” said Berlin’s Diego Demme. “By continuing to show it, by continuing to train it, there will be no other way,” said coach Cristian Fiél, describing his path to the longed-for end to the defensive shortcomings.
The coach called Gechter’s injury “unbelievably bitter.” The 20-year-old may be out for weeks. Hertha announced that detailed information would be provided after the defender has been examined in hospital.
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The collision between the young Berliner and Zeefuik seemed seemingly unspectacular at first. But the spectators had a keen sense of what was happening. It became quiet in the Olympic Stadium as the treatment continued on the grass and then behind a screen on the track.
Düsseldorf is being made too easy
Kownacki had previously taken advantage of Hertha’s long poor record in defensive set pieces. He leapt between Marton Dardai and Zeefuik to score the lead after a free kick cross. Hertha had to regroup. Derry Scherhant (27′) was stopped by Florian Kastenmeier in the Düsseldorf goal.
After Gechter’s injury, the Berlin team tried to equalize with a power play, especially in the almost ten minutes of extra time – but to no avail. Berlin also had chances in the second half through Luca Schuler (54th), Leistner (65th) and Maza (76th), who hit the post. But Düsseldorf scored the second goal – again after a free kick cross.
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