Celebrated premiere in Fürth: The still bottom of the table celebrated the first Bundesliga home win in front of his fans in a 2-1 (1-0) win against Hertha BSC and exacerbated the situation of the 2022 Berliners in the relegation battle.
Promoted Greuther Fürth improved their third win of the season to 13 points, ten points behind Hertha.
Two Swedes were in focus in front of 7919 spectators in the Fürther Ronhof: Captain Branimir Hrgota scored the first goal of the current Bundesliga season after 26 seconds.
After the break, the 29-year-old attacker converted a hand penalty with nerves of steel (70th minute).
The Berliners made the game exciting again with a header from defensive youngster Linus Gechter (82').
Shortly before that, Hrgota and substitute Havard Nielsen missed the decisive 3-0 lead in a double chance.
After his six and seven goals this season, Hrgota is now the sole Bundesliga record scorer in Fürth.
The Fürthers had achieved the first two home wins over Union Berlin and Mainz in ghost games.
This time the team could cheer with its fans.
Hrgota's compatriot Andreas Linde also made a good debut in goal.
Coach Stefan Leitl relied on the keeper, who was signed from Molde BK in January, for the first time.
Veteran Sascha Burchert had to go to the bench.
Linde was the hoped-for support right away, impressed with calmness, overview and also some good build-up passes with the foot.
In addition, the 28-year-old Swede prevented the 1-1 equalization against Ishak Belfodil (13th).
The goalkeeper, who is almost two meters tall, was able to deflect the shot from Hertha's offensive player to a corner (13').
“Linde does it really well.
He keeps the team in the game," said Fürth's sporting director Rachid Azzouzi during the break on pay-TV channel Sky.
The Fürth team, who are now strong at home, earned themselves a "well-deserved lead" at the break, as Azzouzi noted.
Again and again they brought Hertha's weakened defense into trouble with passes in depth.
For the first time right after kick-off, when Paul Seguin sent Hrgota on a long pass to make it 1-0.
The Fürth captain completed the attack with a well-placed low shot.
Timothy Tillman (16'), Jeremy Dudziak (18') and Hrgota from a free kick (45') offered more good chances to score.
Hertha didn't give the impression of being able to fight relegation.
As a replacement for new signing Marc Oliver Kempf (Corona), the young Gechter and Niklas Stark were unable to ensure stability in defense.
Only after the break did the guests really rear up.
But it lacked penetrating power and final strength.
With Fürther 2:0, Seguin was again the starting point.
The midfield player shot the ball in the penalty area at Hertha's Maximilian Mittelstädt.
Referee Daniel Schlager pointed to the point.
Hrgota converted safely.
Linde then saved a shot from Marco Richter (78').
Stevan Jovetic missed a big chance (80th).
Fürth faltered after Gechter's connection goal.