1:1! HSV and Bayern share spoils
HSV battled their way to a well-deserved 1-1 draw with Bundesliga title aspirants Bayern München, in a round 20 encounter at the freezing cold but sold out (57,000) Imtech Arena in Hamburg on Saturday afternoon. Jacopo Sala opened his Hamburg scoring account by putting the home side ahead on 23 minutes. Bayern's equaliser came on 71 minutes through former HSV goal-getter Ivica Olic. Saturday evening under the floodlight of the sold out Imtech Arena in sub-zero temperatures, and a classic North versus South duel to boot. The football gods were smiling down on Hamburg on Saturday evening, as the gladiators took to the arena for a supposed David vs. Goaliath battle which would surely warm the cockles of any full blooded football fan? And it did!
Bayern were looking to keep up with fellow title contenders Borussia Dortmund, who the night before had won 2-0 in Nürnberg on Friday night to go 3 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table. Further motivation came with the knowledge that top six sides Gladbach and Schalke could only draw their games on Saturday afternoon. HSV on the other hand were hoping to carry on the good worked shown during their last outing as they beat Hertha 2-1 in Berlin. The home side took the game to the Bavarians during the opening exchanges. The best two early chances fell to Petric and Westermann, who placed headers over and wide respectively. The Rothosen went one better on 23 minutes as Paolo Guerrero superbly found Jacopo Sala, who acrobatically volleyed home a wonderful shot from the edge of the Bayern area to send the home fans into raptures of joy 1:0! And deservedly so! The goal woke the giant and Bayern began to mount attacks of their own searching for an equaliser. Superstar Arjen Robben looked especially dangerous. The stadium held its collective breath whenever he had the ball. HSV keeper Drobny denied the dynamic Dutchman with an astounding save and then Robben fired a further shot just wide of goal. Westermann had to make a timely clearance on the stroke of halftime to ensure the Rothosen took their slender lead with them into the break. Bayern press - HSV battle
As expected Bayern upped their workrate after the break, but HSV rose to the challenge by fighting for every blade of grass on the newly-laid pitch, tackling as if their very lives depended on it. Add to that the superb form of keeper Drobny, and Bayern would have their work cut out, much to the delight of the majority of the packed house. Bayern inevitably created some good chances, but Drobny thwarted Kroos, Ribery and Robben one after another. Until the 71st minute when even the Czech stopper was powerless as a corner eventually found Olic. The former HSV crowd favourite scored from close range but refused to celebrate his goal out of respect to his former club. In truth, it was a deserved equaliser in a great game of football which despite full blooded crunching tackles was a fair one. The home side did not put everyone behind the ball in an effort to secure a crucial point, but far more continued to get forward with their amazing fans behind them all the way. A real team effort! Shortly before the end, Schweinsteiger fired a stinging shot narrowly wide, while at the other end Son could have scored a winner but was forced out wide and could only hit the side netting with a shot from an acute angle. Then time was blown on a game which was celebrated by HSV fans as if it was a victory and rightly so. Match details: Hamburger SV: Drobny - Diekmeier, Westermann, Rajkovic, Aogo - Rincón, Jarolim - Jansen, Sala (75.Ilicevic) - Guerrero, Petric (71.Son) Bayern München: Neuer - Tymoshchuk (61.Alaba), Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm - Schweinsteiger, Kroos (64.Olic) - Robben, T. Müller, Ribery - Gomez
Goals: 1:0 Sala (23.), 1:1 Olic (71.) Att: 57.000 (sold out) Referee: Knut Kircher (Rottenburg) Booked: Westermann, Rincón / Boateng, Kroos     
1/13 |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
            |
|
|
|
|