Friday, September 17, 2021 at 10:25 PM• Yanick Vos • Last update: 22:30

Jurgen Ekkelenkamp has had an absolute dream debut for Hertha BSC. The attacking midfielder came on Friday evening as a substitute in the game against Greuther Fürth. Less than a minute after his substitute, the ex-Ajacied headed the equalizer against the ropes. Hertha BSC won the home game 2-1.

The visitors, with Jetro Willems and Nick Viergever in the starting line-up, took the lead fifteen minutes after the break. Referee Tobias Stieler put the ball on the spot after a foul by Deyovaisio Zeefuik. From eleven meters Branimir Hrgota hit the inside of the right post. Hertha coach Pál Dárdai intervened immediately and had Ekkelenkamp prepare for his debut. After an hour of play he came inside the lines and with his first contact with the ball it was immediately hit. He scored with the head from a corner by Marton Dardai. Hertha BSC was not satisfied with Ekkelenkamp’s equalizer.

The club from Berlin kept insisting and that led to the 2-1 fifteen minutes before the end. After a cross from the right flank, Ekkelenkamp ran away cheering. The Dutch youth international, taken over from Ajax for three million euros, thought he had made his second of the evening, but Greuther Fürth defender Maximilian Bauer worked the ball into his own goal. The home team took the victory and Ekkelenkamp is the celebrated man. Partly due to his contribution, Hertha comes on six points from five games and can be found in ninth place. Greuther Fürth remains behind with only one point.