Loads Of Goals. So Many Goals.

By: Abby | July 17th, 2008

More goals then they can stand.

Seriously. There were a hell of a lot of goals at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sportpark (a smaller Berlin stadium for the smaller-draw event)- in fact, so many that it ended up being Hertha’s record win in Europe. When the whistle blew at the end the scoreboard read 8-1 for Hertha.

Lukas Piszczek, fresh from his visit to Swissaustria with Poland this summer, got a hat-trick. Marko Pantelic, despite only playing for the first half, got a brace. Raffael, central-defender Steve von Bergen, and new local boy (he’s from Potsdam and has been saying very nice things about being in Berlin) Marc Stein also joined in the celebration.

So basically, we crushed. We were up 5-0 at the half. Yes, FC Nistru Otaci are a team that no one outside of Moldova have ever heard of. Yes, they have a bad record this season. But hey, massive wins are massive wins, and we can only beat who’s in front of us. And after two friendly games without a goal, it’s nice to see that we can still score them. Hey, might as well save them up for a game that means something, right?

The magnitude of the win means that the return leg in Chisnau (capitol of Moldova, where the game will be played) is pretty much a formality. Let’s hope, anyway- I’m always nervous making pronouncements, despite overwhelming evidence that there’s nothing to worry about. I think it’s part of my sports upbringing- every team my parents supported throughout my youth were known for choking spectacularly.

But I’m not dwelling on that now. I’m still with the elation of starting the year off right. If only they were all this easy…