Football United

HSV began the busier of the two sides in front of 54,000 in the AOL Arena on Sunday evening. Schalke’s defence was up to the challenge and the visitors concentrated on soaking up the HSV pressure and then counter attacking. The final pass was missing as HSV went forward an both teams cancelled each other out. It was plain to see that the match was not going to live up to the pre-match hype, at least in the first half.

Penalty appeal
On 30 minutes Emile Mpenza appeared to be fouled on the edge or just inside the area Kobiashvili. The whistle of the match referee Trautman however, remained silent. Two minutes later the man of the match Lincoln latched onto a poor clearance by Boulahrouz, but the in-form Brazilian pulled his effort wide. The game remained goalless at the break

Dream start
The second half started as the majority of those present in the AOL Arena had hoped it would. On 47 minutes, Mehdi Mahdavikia who came on at the start of the second half for Takahara, brought Schlicke into play. The defender passed to David Jarolim on the edge of the box. The Czech midfielder saw the better-positioned Paule Beinlich running in at the far post, and the former Hertha star left the Schalke keeper Frank Rost noc chance lobbing over him and into the far corner.

Missed chances
Schalke tried desperately to get back into the game, but were void of ideas in midfield. They tried to bring Gerald Asamoah into play, but the German international was in the capable hands of young Klingbeil. HSV remained the more threatening side, as first Mpenza headed over the advancing Rost, but also over the bar, following good work by Sergej Barbarez (64.). Then Boulahrouz saw his free header fly over the Schalke goal. On 70 minutes Frank Rost produced a stunning reflex save to deny Barbarez a headed goal after Mpenza had put in a pinpoint cross.

Double whammy
HSV was to rue their missed chances. Schalke struck twice within a minute to break the HSV hearts. Young striker Hanke showed silky skills by bringing down a superb pass by Lincoln inside the box before turning and shooting home all in one movement. Then seconds later Schlicke lost the ball to Lincoln halfway inside the Schalke half. The little Brazilian ran unchallenged to the edge of the Hamburg box, before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom right hands cone3r of martin Pieckenhagen’s net.

Schalke six straight wins
Schalke have now created an all time club record of six consecutive victories in the Bundesliga. Their new trainer Ralf Rangnick can’t seem to put a foot wrong. They remain second in the Bundesliga table. HSV are now only two points above the dreaded drop zone. Thomas Doll and Co. travel to Hansa Rostock in round 13, the east coast side has yet to win at home and is currently bottom of the table.

HSV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke, van Buyten, Boulahrouz, Klingbeil - Wicky - Jarolim, Barbarez, Beinlich - Mpenza, Takahara

Schalke: F. Rost - Oude Kamphuis, Bordon, Waldoch, Kobiashvili - Poulsen - Hamit Altintop, Lincoln - Asamoah, Sand, Ailton

Goals: 1:0 Beinlich (47), 1:1 Hanke (79.), 1:2 Lincoln (81.)

Source: HSV.de