BERLIN (AP) — United States forward Jordan Pefok scored on his Bundesliga debut to help Union Berlin defeat Hertha Berlin 3-1 in their first league game of the season on Saturday.
Pefok, who also scored on his debut in the German Cup on Monday, opened the scoring in the 31st to set Union on its way to a third consecutive win over its rival to keep the unofficial title of ”Stadtmeister” (city champion).
Pefok joined from Swiss team Young Boys in the offseason and has already become a fan favorite. He received a standing ovation along with teammate Genki Haraguchi when they were taken off late in the game.
Sheraldo Becker and Robin Knoche also scored to ensure Hertha’s difficult start to the season continued after its German Cup exit to second-division Eintracht Braunschweig last weekend. Hertha only barely clinched survival last season and new coach Sandro Schwarz faces a tall order to restore the team’s confidence.
Tempers frayed outside before kickoff as road closures led to traffic chaos around Union’s Stadion an der Alten Försterei. Most fans were already inside the ground long before kickoff, but the tail backs persevered, upsetting motorists who had nothing to do with the match.
Union made a great start and forced two good chances early on before the visitors had time to recover. But the home team had to wait for Becker to cross for Pefok to get the opener.
The second half began with a cloud of blue smoke from pyrotechnics in the Hertha end. Seconds after the stadium announcer asked the visiting fans to desist, the Union supporters followed suit with a cloud of red smoke at the other end. A giant tifo declared “Once a Unioner, always a Unioner.” The stadium announcer’s appeals were ignored.
Becker scored in the 50th after combining well with Janik Haberer and the home fans were celebrating again — belatedly — after a VAR check showed no offside when Knoche headed in Christopher Trimmel’s corner in the 54th.
Dodi Lukebakio scored Hertha’s consolation in the 85th.
Also, cup finalist Freiburg routed Augsburg 4-0 away, Borussia Mönchengladbach defeated visiting Hoffenheim 3-1, Wolfsburg drew with promoted Werder Bremen 2-2, and Mainz won 2-1 in Bochum.
Borussia Dortmund hosted Bayer Leverkusen late.
