Hamburguer SV 2 - 1 Mainz
HSV returned to winning ways in front of 44,730 in the AOL Arena on Saturday afternoon, by way of a 2-1 win over Mainz in round 19. Sergej Barbarez put the home side ahead on 30 minutes, only to see the young German international striker Benjamin Auer equalise 9 minutes later. The story of the day however was the kind of which dreams are made of. Thomas Doll brought on Benny Lauth who had been out for an age through injury. The young striker once again won the day by scoring what turned out to be the winning goal only five minutes after coming on.
Dolly rings the changes
The HSV coach Doll made four changes to the side which lost so disappointingly in Bayern (0-3) in round 18 Schlicke came in for for Brecko, Beinlich replaced the injured Trochowski and Moreira played instead of Jarolim who was serving a one match suspension after picking up a fifth yellow card against Bayern. Finally, Mehdi Mahdavikia was preferred instead of Takahara.
HSV make the better start
HSV made the first 20 minutes their as they pushed the visitors back into their own half. Barbarez and Mpenza however, failed to make the most of the pick pf the early chances. The pressure being applied by Thomas Doll’s side was so great that it seemed only a matter of time until they would take the lead.
Mainz improve
After soaking up the early pressure, Mainz started to make a game of it, and went close with a Babatz free kick and a fine shot by da Silva, both of which had the HSV keeper Pieckenhagen stretching.
Sergej on the mark
On 32 minutes HSV at last took what was a deserved lead, as Mpenza latched onto a long ball by Moreira. The Belgian goal-getter laid the ball up for Barbarez on the edge of the Mainz area, Barbarez let fly with a left foot shot which was wickedly deflected up and over the Mainz keeper Wache before nestling in the back of the net.
Mainz draw level
HSV failed to take advantage of their obvious superiority and were punished by the visitors on 39 minutes. The whole HSV defence awaited a powerfully struck free kick by Babatz, but instead, da Silva crossed a long ball to the far post where Auer headed in unchallenged by the surprised Reinhardt to make the score 1-1 which is how things stood at half time.
Pressure but no goals
Doll’s side also started the second half the better of the two teams, although goalmouth action had become a rare commodity A Barbarez header following a Beinlich free kick remained the only half chance created by either side for a long time.
Meeeeehdi shows his class
On 72 minutes the home crowd was gasping again, as Mehdi Mahdavikia danced down the right wing leaving the whole Mainz defence in his wake, before putting a pinpoint cross onto the head of Mpenza in the box, the Belgian however, underlined his current lack of form by missing, as it looked easier to score.
Benny on cloud nine!
That chance signalled the start of a late barrage of HSV pressure. On 75 minutes, Thomas Doll brought on Benny Lauth for Reinhardt. It took the talented striker only five minutes to thank his coach for his trust, as Takahara set him up on the edge of the Mainz area. The young striker who has been sidelined for five months after breaking a bone in his foot, blasted in a fierce shot which had the Mainz keeper wrong footed before flying into the net for what turned out to be the winning goal.
Late flurry
HSV was able to sit back on their slender lead and let the visitors come at them, and they did. Teinert saw his long distance deflected shot go agonisingly wide on 82 minutes. Seconds later, Kramny missed a good chance following a corner. So HSV ran out the deserved winners and remain in sight of the lucrative European football places for next season, whereas Mainz must now look over their shoulder, just two places above the relegation zone.
Mainz: Wache - Noveski, Balitsch (59.N.Weiland), Auer, Gerber (71.Krammy), Friedrich, Teinert, Rose, Babatz, da Silva (77.D.Weiland), Abel
HSV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke (63.Benjamin), Reinhardt (74.Lauth), van Buyten, Klingbeil - Wicky, Mahdavikia, Moreira (46.Takahara), Beinlich - Barbarez, Mpenza
Goals: 1:0 Barbarez (30.), 1:1 Auer (39.), 2:1 Lauth (78.)
Source: HSV.de
