Football United

HSV put 8 points between themselves and the dreaded drop zone on Sunday evening, by beating high-flying VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 in front of 48,246 in the AOL Arena. Thomas Doll’s side came back after going a goal down after only 19 seconds, as the visitors scored through Brdaric with their very first attack. Skipper Daniel van Buyten equalised on 40 minutes and Sergej Barbarez deservedly put HSV ahead on the stroke of half time. Bernardo Romeo scored an injury time third HSV goal to wrap the game up.

Perfect start for the Wolves
The game was only 18 seconds old as Thomas Brdaric finished off good work by Karhan and Klimowicz, to give Wolfsburg a shock early lead. To their credit, HSV patiently passed the ball and waited for an opportunity to strike. HSV began to control the game throwing wave upon wave of attacks at the visiting defence. A well struck free kick by Beinlich on 3 minutes was well saved by the Wolfsburg keeper Simon Jentzsch. Two minutes later, Sergej Barbarez somehow managed to head wide from five yards out while in front of an open goal.

HSV keep the pressure up
Further chances fell to Beinlich and Moirera, but neither player was able to score. Both sides tried to play attacking football in what was a superb first half, although Wolfsburg was not as effective as the home side. HSV dominated the first half and so it came as no surprise that they drew level on 40 minutes, as Daniel van Buyten blasted a free kick under the Wolfsburg wall with Simon Jentzsch rooted to the spot.



Barbarez gives HSV the lead
That goal signalled a period of powerplay like pressure by the home side. (43.) and Klingbeil (44.) both went close with shots, but a minute later, the Bosnian striker Barbarez latched onto a ball by Takahara before blasting home with Jentzsch getting his fingertips to the ball, but not enough to Stop the ball bulging the Wolfsburg net. Takahara fluffed an amazing chance to put HSV further ahead on the stroke of half time, as Quiroga slipped during a challenge on him. The Japanese striker found himself one on one with Jentzsch where he hesitated and finally pushed the ball wide.

Hristov makes his comeback
The second half was no where near as entertaining as the first, and Erik Gerets brought on Marian Hristov for Rytter, for his first game since he underwent knee surgery. There was little goalmouth action apart from half chances by Takahara and a close header by van Buyten. HSV’s keeper Martin Pieckenhagen had almost nothing to do all game.



Quiroga sent off
Wolfsburg was forced to try to compete with HSV with only ten men fort he last 20 minutes of the round 14 match, after Quiroga was rightly sent off for a second yellow card offence. The dismissal didn’t change the game in any way. To their credit the Wolves continued to have a go at HSV as well as they could. In injury time, a combination between the two HSV second half substitutes Rahn and Romeo, produced the third goal which takes HSV up to tenth in the Bundesliga table, and leaves Wolfsburg wondering what they have to do to stop their awful run of now four straight defeats away from home.



VfL Wolfsburg: Jentzsch - Rytter (46.Hristov), Quiroga, Hofland, Weiser - Thiam, Sarpei (67.Topic), Karhan (80.Franz), Petrov - Brdaric, Klimowicz

Hamburger SV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke, van Buyten, Boulahrouz, Klingbeil - Wicky, Jarolim (75.Benjamin), Beinlich (86.Rahn), Moreira (81.Romeo) - Barbarez, Takahara

Goals: 0:1 Brdaric (1.), 1:1 van Buyten (40.), 2:1 Barbarez (45.), 3:1 Romeo (90+2.)

Source: HSV.de