2. Bundesliga: Hertha BSC maintain perfect start with 3-1 win at Osnabrück

Hertha BSC continued their perfect start to the 2. Bundesliga season on Sunday afternoon as they defeated VfL Osnabrück 3-1 at the Bremer Brücke.

The hosts matched their visitors for large periods of an evenly contested first half, but Hertha eventually found the breakthrough shortly after the interval through captain Josip Brekalo.

Kevin Sessa doubled the visitors’ advantage midway through the second half, although Jonathan Gomez gave Osnabrück hope with eight minutes of normal time remaining. Farid Alfa-Ruprecht then settled the contest in stoppage time to ensure Hertha collected a fifth consecutive victory.

Osnabrück started brightly and almost took advantage of a defensive mistake in the 17th minute. Brekalo’s attempted backpass was intercepted by Robin Meißner, who suddenly found himself through on goal. However, Marius Gersbeck reacted quickly and got a foot to the striker’s effort to keep the score level.

Hertha gradually began to take control and came close to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute. A slick passing move released Jón Dagur Thorsteinsson inside the penalty area, but Bjarke Jacobsen produced a crucial last-ditch challenge to divert his effort behind for a corner.

Brekalo then tested Jonas Krumrey with a powerful effort, although neither side could find a way through before the interval.

The visitors finally got their reward five minutes after the restart. Following a free-kick, Brekalo collected the loose ball on the edge of the area before taking a touch and firing an accurate effort into the bottom corner to put Hertha ahead.

Osnabrück were presented with a golden opportunity to respond just ten minutes later when Pascal Klemens was penalised for handling the ball inside the area. Meißner stepped up from the spot, but Gersbeck guessed correctly and produced an excellent save to deny the Osnabrück forward.

Hertha survived that scare before extending their lead in the 70th minute. A corner caused chaos inside the Osnabrück penalty area, with the ball eventually falling to Sessa around eight yards from goal. The midfielder made no mistake with his first-time finish to put the visitors 2-0 up.

Osnabrück refused to surrender and nearly reduced the deficit when Jonathan Gomez forced another impressive save from Gersbeck.

The goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Gomez from finding the net shortly afterwards, however. The Osnabrück attacker attempted to send a cross into the area from the right, but the ball took an unexpected trajectory and sailed over Gersbeck before nestling in the far corner.

The goal gave the hosts renewed belief heading into the closing stages, but Hertha ultimately had the final say.

With Osnabrück pushing for an equaliser, Hertha broke forward on the counter-attack in the second minute of stoppage time. Farid Alfa-Ruprecht finished the move with a powerful strike past Krumrey to restore the visitors’ two-goal advantage and secure all three points.

The victory sees Hertha remain top of the 2. Bundesliga with a maximum 15 points from their opening five matches. Osnabrück, meanwhile, remain on six points after suffering their third defeat of the campaign.