Hamburg SV 2 - 1 VfB Stuttgart
HSV soared up to seventh place in the Bundesliga following a 2-1 home win over high-flying VfB Stuttgart in round 21 on Saturday afternoon. HSV deserved to win after producing a solid performance in front of 47,000 in the AOL Arena. The visitors went in front on 15 minutes through a spectacular far post shot by Szabics. Two minutes later though, Sergej Barbarez scrambled home the HSV equaliser. A supreme header on 54 minutes by skipper Daniel van Buyten put the home side back in front and from then on HSV never looked back.
Benjamin for Wicky
The HSV coach Doll made only one change to the side which won so emphatically away to Nürnberg in round 20 (3-1). Collin Benjamin took his place in the starting line-up instead of Raphael Wicky, who has a nasal problem. On the Stuttgart side, Kuranyi failed a late fitness test, and Cacau was suspended. The former HSV player Babbel was dropped from the first team as was Heldt. Meira, Gerber and Tiffert replaced Babbel, Heldt and Kuranyi.
Surprise lead for the visitors
HSV started brightly enough, moving the ball around nicely, and pushing the visiting side back into their own half. It was surprising then that Stuttgart took the lead after 15 minutes as a superb pass by Tiffert into the path of the advancing Szabics, on the right hand side of the HSV box, was blasted home by the VfB striker leaving Pieckenhagen in the home goal no chance.
Lightning response
HSV didn’t let the Stuttgart goal unsettle them; in fact they pulled level within two minutes as Sergej Barbarez scrambled the ball home from two yards out after a mix up in the Stuttgart defence. Towards the end of the first half the game developed into a midfield battle, almost void of goalmouth incident. The game was level at 1-1 at the break.
Skipper puts HSV in driving seat
At the start of the second half Thomas Doll brought on striker Emile Mpenza for the defender Klingbeil. HSV remained on top and didn’t let the visitors settle. On 54 minutes HSV scored what turned out to be the winner, as a Mahdavikia free kick was headed home by the HSV skipper Daniel van Buyten from 8 metres out.
Dubious decision…
Five minutes later the VfB COACH Sammer could be seen going ape on the touchline. The reason was because Szabics appeared to be brought down by Pieckenhagen in the HSV penalty area. The whistle of the match referee Kemmling however, remained silent. The game became more heated and the tackles started to fly in.
Zivkovic sent off
On 73 minutes Stuttgart was down to ten men as Zivkovic was sent off for fouliong Tkahara. It was his second yeöllow card offence of the game. The referee showed Zivkovic the yellow/ red card, and the visitors struggled from that moment on. Stuttgart tried to pressure HSV with a late flurry of pressure, but there was no way past the superb HSV back line. So HSV reach 7th place, their best placing of the season. Thomas Doll’s side played the cleverer football and fully deserved their win.
HSV: Pieckenhagen - Schlicke, van Buyten, Boulahrouz, Klingbeil - Benjamin - Mahdavikia, Beinlich - Jarolim - Barbarez, Takahara
VfB Stuttgart: Hildebrand - Stranzl, Fernando Meira, Zivkovic - Hinkel, Soldo, H. Gerber - Tiffert, A. Hleb, Meißner - Szabics
Goals: 0:1 Szabics (15,) 1:1 Barbarez (17.), 2:1 van Buyten (54.)
Source: HSV.de
Bundesliga
Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Bayern 21 41
2. Schalke 21 41
3. Bremen 21 37
4. Hertha 21 36
5. Stuttgart 21 35
...
7. Hamburg SV 21 34
