Chidera Ejuke shows sparks in Hertha’s defeat to Bayern as Bundesliga fans raise ‘Boycott Qatar’ banners

Chidera Ejuke was a 65^th minute substitute as Hertha Berlin played Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion on Saturday. 74,667 fans filled the arena as the perennial winners visited the capital city.

The Nigerian came on with scores at 2-3 after a brace by Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and a Jamal Musiala goal sent the visitors ahead early in the first half.

But Hertha fought back through goals from Dodi Lukebakio and a penalty by Davie Selke to bring it close in the first half.

It was a Saturday where many Bundesliga fans across the country protested the World Cup in Qatar with banners calling for the tournament’s boycott.

Lukebakio set the tone for the game with an early shot on target that the returning Manuel Neuer parried for a corner kick.

However, Bayern were more clinical going forward in numbers as Sadio Mane provided an assist for Musiala to convert from inside the box.

Cameroon’s Choupo-Moting would score two similar scrambled goals in the space of a couple of minutes to send the visitors into a clear lead before the hosts found their way back into the game.

Ejuke’s introduction in the second half brought zest to the Hertha attack as he replaced Suat Serdar on the left.

His dribbles brought spark to the hosts as he won a free kick that Lukebakio played but was saved by Neuer.

Ejuke proceeded to trouble the Bayern back line of Benjamin Parvard and Dayot Upamecano. But the Bayern defence held its own to win the game.

Bayern moved top of the table with the win while Hertha remained on 11 points while hovering above the relegation zone.

As the team’s best dribbler with three assists in the league, it was baffling why coach Marco Rose preferred to keep him on the bench.

The 24-year-old who is on loan from CSKA Moscow has been a creative source for Hertha. But he needs to find the scoring touch to add to his game as the team continues to struggle having won only two games so far.