Football United

Naohiro Takahara is the toast of Hamburg this evening. The Japanese "Sushi-Bomber" struck twice in the Bundesliga round 6 match against Hertha in the AOL Arena in Hamburg, to seal victory for the North German club. The game unexpectedly started with both sides attacking each other from the off, even though so much was hanging on the game. Takahara had been out injured for over four months and had spent the last few weeks playing for the HSV amateurs. His inclusion in this evening's game, turned out to be the deciding factor.

Vultures on the fence...

The football media had named the match a "make or break" affair for the HSV coach Klaus Toppmöller, whose side had only won one of the opening five games in the new Bundesliga season. The visitors Hertha hadn't fared much better, having only managed five draws from five games. So the chips were down and both sides had been spitting fire at each other before the clash.

Early lead for HSV

A tense crowd of 43,169 in the AOL Arena saw the Japanese international Takahara calm the Hamburg nerves and put the home side ahead after only 3 minutes. A Christian Rahn corner was won in the air by the Belgian Daniel van Buyten, who headed to the far post where Takahara was lurking and only needed to nod the ball home from close range. To their credit, Hertha weren't rattled by the early setback, and went at the home side with everything they had. That pressure was rewarded on 12 minutes as the impressive Müller drew the HSV keeper Pieckenhagen and lobbed him for the Hertha equaliser after being put through by Marcelinho.

Passion without skill...

After the equaliser by Hertha the game was a passionate affair, but neither side was able to play the decisive pass to their forwards to take the lead. The game was nicely poised at 1-1 at the break. At the start of the second half both team adopted a cautious approach. An entertaining game developed between the two sides almost void of skill but with a high level of readiness to battle form every ball. It was end to end stuff for the crowd who weren't able to enjoy the game as such, but rather suffered with the club they were supporting. The game was nicely poised at 1-1 at the break and both sets of fans waited with baited breath for what would happen in the second half.

Takahara makes the difference

The second half was almost as passionate as the first, but not at first. HSV had two good chances both involving Mpenza, but the super-quick Belgian striker was unable to capitalise on the situations, after Rahn and Takahara had set up the chances for him. The Hertha striker Fredi Bobic had no less than two gilt-edged chances to give Hertha the lead, but as has recently often been the case, he was found wanting when needed. The HSV keeper Martin Pieckenhagen foiled the former Hannover, Dortmund and Bolton Wanderers striker as he was in a promising position to score.

Lucky HSV

Klaus Toppmöller decided to throw caution to the wind after 76 minutes, and bring some fresh legs into the fray. Out went Barbarez and Schlicke, and in came Moreira, and the 17 year old youngster Kucukovic. In the 81st minute, the Portuguese dribbler Moreira left two Hertzha defenders for dead before passing to Christian rahn. The German international defender crossed to the far post where Takahara was waiting to somehow slam home what turned out to be the winner for HSV. The victory takes HSV away from the dreaded drop zone, and leaves Hertha asking themselves, what do we have to do to win this season?

When all is said and done, HSV was the more fortunate side in this round 6 Bundesliga tie. Their coach Klaus Toppmöller had proved that the fact that he had placed his cards on Takahara was the right decision. Hertzha can surely build on the performance they displayed in Hamburg on Sunday evening.

HSV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke (76.Kucukovic), Van Buyten, Reinhardt - Boulahrouz, Wicky, Jarolim, Rahn, Barbarez (76.Moreira) - Mpenza, Takahara

Hertha: Fiedler - Van Burik, Simunic, Hartmann, Fathi (81.Neuendorf) - Kovac, Schröder, Müller (84.Salihovic) - Gilberto, Marcelinho, Bobic (71.Wichniarek)

Goals: 1:0 Takahara (3.), 1:1 Müller (12.), 2:1 Takahara (81.)

Source: HSV.de