Hertha BSC Berlin 1 - 2 Darmstadt: Hertha Berlin's Champions League hopes appear over as Darmstadt ensure safety

Posted Sunday, May 08, 2016 by PA

Hertha Berlin saw their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season all but ended by a Darmstadt side who secured their place in Germany's top flight next season with a 2-1 win in the capital.

Vladimir Darida put the Old Lady in front, but goals from Jerome Gondorf and former Hertha forward Sandro Wagner, who was later sent off, saw Darmstadt get the win they needed to be sure of Bundesliga football again next season and leave Hertha fighting on the final day of the season with Mainz to avoid entering the Europa League in the qualifying rounds.

Darida was in the right place at the far post to meet Maximilian Mittelstadt's cross, turning the ball back across the path of Christian Mathenia on the volley to lift Hertha - at least momentarily - up to fourth early on.

Gladbach had just fallen behind in their game against Leverkusen and the Berlin fans were starting to prepare a party when Darmstadt hit back.

Gondorf met Marcel Heller's cross on the edge of the six-yard box with his placed volley beating Rune Jarstein and bringing the guests level.

With news filtering through that Gladbach had taken the lead in their game against Leverkusen, Hertha knew that they needed another goal to keep up the pressure on, but the next goal at the Olympiastadion came at the wrong end as far as they were concerned.

Wagner, a former Hertha player, was the man who all but ended their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League when he stuck out his right foot to convert Gondorf's cross from close range.

Wagner was later shown a second yellow card, but the dismissal was not going to spoil his or Darmstadt's day as they celebrated keeping their place at Germany's top table next season, while the result leaves Hertha down in sixth.