TWO-GOAL IBISEVIC SENT OFF AS HERTHA GO THIRD

VEDAD IBISEVIC (pix) scored both goals before being sent off in Hertha Berlin’s 2-1 comeback win over Mainz to lift his side to third in the Bundesliga yesterday. Both teams finished with 10 men for the final quarter of an hour as Ibisevic was sent off for receiving his second yellow card. His dismissal came after Mainz’s defensive midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin was also sent for an early shower, also for a second booking. “We stayed calm despite conceding the early goal, got ourselves level and then created the winner, so we deserved the win,” said Hertha coach Pal Dardai. Hertha climb to third behind leaders RB Leipzig and second-placed Bayern Munich. Earlier, Schalke 04 continued their rise as striker Eric Choupo-Moting atoned for a penalty miss by netting in their 3-1 comeback win against Darmstadt. Having been bottom of the table after losing their first five games, the result left Schalke eighth and unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions. “It’s the first time we have turned things around after going behind and we haven’t lost for a while now,” Choupo-Moting told Sky.