Football United

HSV showed tremendous character on Saturday afternoon, as they won 3-1 away at Borussia Mönchengladbach in round 15 of the Bundesliga, despite having to compensate for the silly sending off of Khalid Boulahrouz after 54 minutes. Two goals by Sergej Barbarez and one by Stefan Beinlich sent Thomas Doll and Co. up to eighth place in the Bundesliga table. It is the first time that HSV has occupied that spot this season and is now only 2 points behind the 5th place Bremen.

Early chances
HSV started the match on top and put the home side under some early pressure. Thomas Doll’s side however, had little luck in the opening exchanges, as first Jarolim (4.) and then Takahara (6.) went close. Slowly but surely, Gladbach found their rhythm, and it took them a quarter of an hour to finally slow down the waves of HSV attacks. On 19 minutes Oliver Neuville turned and blasted a shot just over Martin Pieckenhagen’s bar from the edge of the box.



Dead ball situations pay off
Just before half time HSV struck twice. A beautifully flighted ball onto the head of Klingbeil at the far post by Beinlich was headed into the path of three HSV players all alone in the Gladbach area. Sergej Barbarez reacted quickest to fire in what was his 50th goal for HSV and deservedly put HSV ahead. Four minutes later Christian Ziege fouled David Jarolim on the edge of the Gladbach area. Up stepped Stefan Beinlich to score with a fabulous shot which hit the inside of Kampa’s left hand post before nestling in the back of the net. HSV went into the break well worth their two goal lead.

Piecke boob…
In round 14, HSV went behind after 19 seconds of the first half during their 3-1 win at home to Wolfsburg. In round 15, only 19 seconds after the referee started the second half in Gladbach, the home side scored, as Neuville’s shot was parried into the path of van Hout who came on at the start of the second half. He didn’t need asking twice, scoring easily from 10 metres out.



Boulahrouz gets his marching orders
That goal gave the home side hope and they must have thought the game was swinging their way, as on 54 minutes Boulahrouz was rather stupidly sent off for applauding the referee for giving him a yellow card.

Gladbach pressure
Gladbach Tried to make the most of the now newly organised HSV defence. They only managed to create one chance as Ulich went too close for HSV comfort, blasting a shot inches wide. HSV concentrated on counter attacking and were dangerous on the break, especially when their second half substitute Mpenza was involved.



Killer blow
On 82 minutes the game was all over bar the shouting. Barbarez advanced into the Gladbach area with the ball at his feet, where he was nudged by the former HSV striker Marek Heinz. The Bosnian fell and the ref pointed to the penalty spot. Barbarez got up and scored his 6th goal of the season to plunge Gladbach deep into trouble. Gladbach were unlucky during the final minutes of the match as Sverkos (85.) and Strasser (88.) hit the woodwork.

Key players out of Hanover match
Sergej Barbarez and Khalid Boulahrouz will be missing fort he round 16 match in the AOL Arena against Hanover. Barbarez picked up his fifth yellow card, and the yellow /red card given to Boulahrouz carries a one match suspension with it.



Bor. M'gladbach: Kampa - Ziege (72.Schlaudraff), Pletsch, Strasser, Korzynietz - Carnell (46.van Hout), Demo (78.Broich), Ulich, Heinz - Neuville, Sverkos

HSV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke, van Buyten, Boulahrouz, Klingbeil - Wicky, Jarolim, Beinlich (90.Rahn), Moreira (56.Benjamin) - Barbarez, Takahara (69.Mpenza)


Goals: 0:1 Barbarez (40.), 0:2 Beinlich (44.), 1:2 van Hout (46.), 1:3 Barbarez (82.)

Source: HSV.de