Berlin, July 29 (IANS) Vedad Ibisevic's winner helped Hertha Berlin to overcome Brondby 1-0 at the first leg in the third qualifying round of the Europa League football tournament.
The Bundesliga side reaped their first victory in their first competitive game of the season on Thursday as Ibisevic smoothed the way for the win with his sideways scissor-kick goal in the 28th minute, reports Xinhua.
Berlin started their first encounter of the season nervously, but Mitchell Weiser's pinpoint cross into the area found Ibisevic.
The Danish visitors tried to respond, but Berlin goalkeeper Rune Jarstein was on guard to deny Teemu Pukki in the 33rd minute. Meanwhile Vladimir Darida and Weisser squandered chances for the hosts before the break.
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After the restart, Berlin continued to control the game but they failed to turn their chances into a tangible reward, as Darida and Ibisevic missed promising opportunities.
Berlin's wastefulness nearly got punished but custodian Jarstein denied Pukki in a one-on-one situation in the 69th minute. The hosts maintained their lead to the end to take a 1-0 advantage into next week's second leg encounter in Brondby.
--IANS
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