Football United

HSV beat Bayer Leverkusen in front of a crowd of 43,959 in the AOL Arena on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a 21st minute header by skipper Daniel van Buyten following a corner by Stefan Beinlich. The game was a scrappy affair with few clear cut chances. New number one keeper Stefan Wächter played superbly and kept his side ahead with a stunning save as Leverkusen’s Jacek Krzynowek looked certain to score. The victory takes HSV up to fifth place in the Bundesliga table, at least for 24 hours…



Four changes
The HSV coach Thomas Doll made four changes to the side which lost 1-4 away to Hertha last time out. Stefan Wächter took over between the posts for the-out of form Martin Pickenhagen. Wicky (hamstring) and Boulahrouz (5 yellow cards), were replaced by Benjamin and Reinhardt respectively. Up front Lauth lined up alongside Takahara, with Barbarez just behind the front two. As expected, Moreira made way for the former 1860 Munich striker.

Bayer injury woes
Bayer coach Augenthaler made only one change to his side which drew 1-1 at home to Stuttgart last time out. Awful injuries sustained by his first choice defenders meant that Augenthaler was robbed of the considerable services of Roque Junior, Nowotny, Babic and Juan. Bayer was forced to revert to a back three featuring -Bracker, Ramelow and Placente. The 17 year old Spaniard Castro started the game on the right of midfield.



Subdued start
Both sides started the match not prepared to give an inch of territory to the other, so there was no real goalmouth action fort he first twenty minutes. Then out of the blue, the HSV skipper Daniel van Buyten out jumped Ramelow to head in a Beinlich corner on 21 minutes. The visitors had problems stringing together their passes and indeed it was HSV who occasionally threatened with counter attacks. Nothing much happened until shortly before the break, then Voronin played a sweet ball through to Krzynowek who found himself on his own against Wächter. The HSV keeper produced a superb stop to deny the Polish midfielder. The home side went into the break deserving their one goal lead.



Klingbeil picks up fifth yellow card
Although the better side HSV failed to finish off the side which will play Liverpool, in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final next week. Niggly fouls dominated the second half; and defender Klingbeil picked up a fifth yellow card, ruling him out of the trip to Arminia Bielefeld next Saturday. The game dragged on and not long before the end, the HSV skipper van Buyten came to the rescue as a miscued clearance by Beinlich found its way to the feet of Berbatov, who was hustled out of a close range shot.



HSV: Wächter - Schlicke, van Buyten, Reinhardt, Klingbeil - Benjamin, Jarolim, (59.Mahdavikia) Beinlich, Barbarez - Lauth (77.Kucukovic), Takahara (84.Moreira)

Bayer Leverkusen: Butt - Callsen-Bracker, Ramelow, Placente - Castro (80.Donavan), Schneider, Ponte, Krzynowek, Freier (67.Bierofka) - Berbatov, Voronin,(71.Franca)

Goals: 1:0 Van Buyten (21.)

BUNDESLIGA

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Bayern 24 50
2. Schalke 24 50
3. Bremen 24 43
4. Stuttgart 24 42
5. Hertha 24 40
6. Hamburger 24 40