Football United

HSV remains the only unbeaten side away from home in the Bundesliga, following their creditable 1-1 draw away to Werder Bremen on Sunday evening (18.12.05). It was a game of two halves, with the home side totally dominant during the first 45 minutes and HSV on top for the rest of the match. Frenchman Joe Micoud put the home ´side ahead during injury time in the first half, before second half substitute Mustafa Kucukovic equalised for the visitors on 67 minutes, it was his first goal for the HSV first team.

Key players missing
HSV coach Thomas Doll was without the long term injured Bastian Reinhardt and Collin Benjamin, as well as Rafael van der Vaart, Khalid Boulahrouz and Emile Mpenza. Despite those key omissions, HSV’s game plan was clear: To maintain their unbeaten run away from home in the Bundesliga. Bremen also had set their sights high; after all, they were unbeaten at home before HSV came to town. Influential midfielder Tim Borowski was missing from coach Thomas Schaaf’s side after undergoing recent surgery on a groin problem.

Werder dominate HSV
The best strike force against the best defence in the Bundesliga, was the name of the game in front of a sell out crowd in the Weserstadion ahead of the 83rd meeting between the two sides. Werder turned on the style during the first half making HSV look second class for long periods. The visitors hardly had a chance to play in the Bremen half; such was the early pressure from the home side. Breman created chance on chance and the HSV keeper Kirschstein made a couple of fine saves to deny the home side what would have been a deserved lead.

HSV under the cosh
On 25 minutes, Frings curled in a free kick from the right hand touchline, and the HSV keeper looked out of sorts as the ball came back off his right hand post, onto his head and away from the danger zone. On 39 minutes the referee gave a penalty after Kirschstein messed up what looked to be an easy back pass. The HSV keeper gently touched the Polish-born German international striker as he went for the ball near the goal line. The resulting spot kick was well saved by Kirschstein, although it must be said that he moved off his line too early and couldn’t have complained had the referee ordered the kick to be taken again.

Werder takes the lead
It wasn’t as if HSV didn’t threaten at all during the first half. Indeed, the home keeper Reinke had to be on his guard as Piotr Trochowski tried two long distance efforts (22., 23.). In injury time of the first half, Micoud went one better as he fired the home side into the lead. The frenchman fired in a free kick into the HSV area and although the shot looked as if it could have been saved, Werder took a deserved lead seconds before the referee blew for half time.

HSV on top
The second half saw the visitors get a grip on the game from the off. Benny Lauth missed a half chance two minutes after the re-start, and 4 minutes later Mahdavikia tried a cross cum shot which went wide of the mark. On 55 minutes, Jarolim lost the ball in midfielder and Frings found himself one on one with Kirschstein. The HSV keeper stood his ground and denied the former Bayern midfielder. Kirschstein was also at hand to deny a fierce shot fired in by Valdez on 61 minutes. On the other hand, Sergej Barbarez should have equalised as he met a pinpoint cross by Mahdavikia. The Bosnian striker could only head straight at Werder keeper Reinke while unmarked (63.).



Dolly throws caution to the wind
On 65 minutes the HSV coach Thomas Doll brought on Takahara and Kucukovic in the hope of forcing a win in the Weserstadoin. It was to be a move which would soon bear fruits. On 67 minutes, HSV was level after Takahara fed Kucukovic in the Werder area, from where he turned well and thanks to a deflection by a Werder defender, equalised for HSV from 8 metres out. The visitors could have snatches all three points at the death as Wicky (against his former club) raced forward to the Bremen area from where he was foiled by Reinke. It was to be the last chance of what turned out to be a pulsating game, especially in the second half. HSV remains in second place in the Bundesliga table, some 6 points behind Bayern and 2 points ahead of Werder Bremen.

Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Naldo, Pasanen, Andreasen - Baumann, Vranjes (80.Jensen), Frings, Micoud - Valdez (70.Klasnic), Klose

HSV: Kirschstein - Mahdavikia, Demel, van Buyten, Atouba - Wicky, Jarolim (87.Klingbeil), Beinlich, Trochowski (65.Kucukovic) - Barbarez, Lauth (65.Takahara)

Goals: 1:0 Micoud (45+1.), 1:1 Kucukovic (67.)

Source: HSV.de

BUNDESLIGA

Pos. Team Pld Pts
1. Bayern Munchen 17 44
2. Hamburg 17 38
3. Bremen 17 36
4. Schalke 17 31
5. Hertha 17 26