Friendly

Wood seals friendly win over Aalborg

Hamburger SV defeated Aalborg BK in an unannounced friendly on Thursday afternoon, with Bobby Wood scoring the only goal of the game.

Bobby Wood’s ninth-minute opener was enough for HSV to see off Danish first division side Aalborg BK on Thursday (14th November), in a game lacking in goalmouth action. The American’s cool finish turned out to be the only goal of the game at the Hamburg training pitches next to the Volksparkstadion, with the guests providing a stern test for Dieter Hecking’s side.

Bobby Wood held off his markerand finished past Hansen in the 9th minute for the one real moment of quality in the game.

Just as the previous friendlies against Wolfsburg and Eintracht Braunschweig, the coaching staff were looking to keep minds and bodies fresh, whilst also giving playing time to some of the playing staff who haven’t seen much action so far this campaign. New tactics were also the order of the day, with Gideon Jung, Timo Letschert and Ewerton forming a back three, with Tim Leibold and Khaled Narey in the wing-back positions. It was a direct, driving run from Narey that led to the first goal, after Bakery Jatta had nicked the ball off of the guests in midfield. The 25-year-old laid the ball into the path of Bobby Wood, who held off the defender with his back to goal, controlling and swivelling in one movement, before slotting the ball past Hansen with his left foot having freed himself from his marker with his strength and first touch. Aalborg had problems dealing with the high press from Hamburg, and the Rothosen should have doubled their lead when Hansen’s rushed clearance fell to Jairo Samperio ten yards out, but the Spaniard couldn’t generate enough power behind his effort, so that Hansen could atone for his earlier mistake. Tim Leibold stung Hansen’s palms from range in the final action of a first half that saw HSV dominant in possession but for large parts unable to turn their dominance into telling chances.

Aalborg, currently finding themselves in seventh position in the Danish Superliga, were able to find a way into the game after the break, themselves pressing the hosts high up the pitch and profiting from some imprecise HSV passing. The Rothosen truly failed to ignite in the second period, despite the introduction of Sonny Kittel and under-19 captain Jonah Fabisch, with crosses from wide positions failing to find their intended targets on the few occasions that the home side could build up a head of steam. The Danes were equally as imprecise in possession as their hosts, yet were able to end the game with a flurry of chances, and had the ball in the net with a minute to play, only for it to be called back for a foul on Tim Leibold in the build-up. As it was, the game ended with HSV having their noses in front, with Bobby Wood’s cool finish proving the difference between two evenly-matched teams.

HSV: Mickel (46‘ Pollersbeck) - Letschert, Jung, Ewerton - Dudziak (46’ Kittel), Kinsombi (65‘ Fabisch), Jairo, Leibold - Narey, Wood, Jatta

Goals: 1-0 Wood (9’)