Toppmöller's Trauma As Hamburg Crash Out
Hamburger SV coach Klaus Toppmöller is fighting for his job this evening after HSV crashed out of the DFB Pokal at Regionalliga side Paderborn.
HSV have already been eliminated from the Intertoto Cup and lost twice in the Bundesliga, including last week's embarrassing 2-1 defeat at newly-promoted Mainz. However, today's 4-2 defeat in the Pokal is likely to cause consternation in the HSV boardroom, with questions being asked about Toppmöller's motivational and tactical powers.
Remarkably, HSV led 2-0 inside a half hour with Christian Rahn (13) and Emile Mpenza (30) putting the Bundesliga giants into a commanding position. However, a disbelieving Toppmöller then had to watch the regional side draw level with a penalty from Guido Spork (35) (which saw Mpenza sent off for arguing with the referee), and an equaliser from Müller (41) before the break. Cartus put the home side in front for the first time on 63, before a second Spork penalty condemned Hamburg to defeat on 83. The only bright spot of a dismal afternoon for HSV was the first appearance in club colours of new-signing Benjamin Lauth, but that will come as scant consolation for Toppmöller tonight as he tries to explain his dismal start to a season that promised much more only a month ago.
In other German Cup games today, Kaiserslautern won 15-0 (yes, fifteen-nil) at FC Schönberg, while holders Werder Bremen won 2-0 at Mario Basler's Jahn Regensburg. Freiburg, Dortmund, Bochum, and Bayern Munich also came through the first round with ease
Source: Goal.com
