Brøndby striker Teemu Pukki’s hat-trick ensured Hertha Berlin will not participate in this season’s Europa League after losing 3-1 (3-2 on aggregate) to the Danish side in the qualifier for the competition.
The home side took the lead within three minutes after Pukki chested the ball in at the near post. On the half-hour mark, an unmarked Vedad Ibišević equalised for the Bundesliga side, heading in Peter Pekarík’s cross.
However, four minutes later, the Danish side retook the lead after a mistake from left-back Marvin Plattenhardt.
Ibišević and Salomon Kalou had chances to draw Hertha level in the second half, but Pukki’s third with just under fifteen minutes left sealed Hertha’s fate.
