Match report
10.05.25
HSV promoted to Bundesliga after 6-1 victory!
HSV have done it! The Rothosen sealed their return to the top tier of German football with a win at home to SSV Ulm. Long-awaited scenes of jubilation arrived thanks to a brace from Königsdörffer, strikes from Reis, Selke and Elfadli and an own goal by the away side.
It’s official! On Saturday, 10th May, Hamburger SV defeated SSV Ulm 6-1 to clinch their promotion to the Bundesliga. In front of 57,000 spectators at a sold-out Volksparkstadion, the Rothosen confirmed their return to the top tier on Matchday 33 of the second-division season. Fans streamed onto the pitch at the final whistle to celebrate wildly with the team as seven years of hurt came to an end.
A thrilling first half …
An evening kick-off under the floodlights at a sold-out Volksparkstadion set the perfect stage for a historic evening for HSV. Stadium announcer Christian Stübinger introduced the starting line-up with the words: “Today is our day!”. And today, the situation was clear after the earlier matches featuring the Rothosen’s competitors. Only a win would see HSV achieve their number-one aim. Head coach Polzin made two changes to his side from the 4-0 away win in Darmstadt. Poreba and Sahiti were like-for-like replacements for Schonlau (suspended) and Balde (named on the bench). The team appeared to be dealing with some nerves early on. While the Rothosen struggled to keep hold of the ball, Ulm started on top and took the lead in the 7th minute, when Gaal found the net following a corner. However, the Rothosen bounced back from this sucker punch barely three minutes later. After a backheel from Dompe, Muheim broke forward on the left and pulled the ball back for Reis, who fired a precise low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-1. The fans, who were almost universally clad in blue, had willed the team forward immediately after conceding. It was the captain who got them to their feet for the first time in the match.
After this dramatic first few minutes, both sides began to cancel each other out until the 21st minute, when Selke was inches away from connecting with Königsdörffer’s ball-in at the far post. Ulm continued to pose a danger though. Dressel tried to place a shot from long range into the bottom right-hand corner, but HSV goalkeeper Heuer Fernandes was just about able to turn it wide of the post. The Rothosen ‘keeper was involved again in the next big moment of the game, when referee Max Burda pointed to the spot after VAR intervention. Muheim slid in to block a shot from Higl and caught the Ulm player. Telalovic’s resulting 36th-minute penalty was saved by Heuer Fernandes, who celebrated as if his team had scored while he was lifted into the air by Selke. And his team did score just a few minutes later. Königsdörffer ran onto a ball from Sahiti on the edge of the box and chipped it over SSV goalkeeper Thiede for 2-1. This sensational goal in the 42nd minute led to the entire Rothosen bench spilling onto the field in front of the north stand. And there was a time for another of these joyous celebrations before the break. Dompe swung a perfect cross from the left onto the head of mask-wearing striker Selke, who nodded in his 22nd goal of the season to make it 3-1 at half time. The Volksparkstadion was absolutely rocking!
… and exuberant celebrations
Both coaches made a change at the interval. The HSV boss sent on Balde in place of Sahiti, and the academy product was celebrating almost immediately. After a cross from Dompe, Ulm ‘keeper Thiede and centre-back Strompf got in each other’s way. The defender unluckily ended up putting through his own net to add a fourth goal for the home side. This essentially put paid to any thoughts of an Ulm comeback, and the first chants of “Nie mehr 2. Liga” (“No more second tier”) rang out through the Volkspark. On the pitch, the match became somewhat less eventful. Ulm, who themselves are in danger of relegation from the 2. Bundesliga, came forward with a courage born out of determination, but HSV defended calmly and compactly, and managed to take back control themselves. On the hour mark, Selke fired wide with a long-range shot on the counterattack, before Königsdörffer dribbled a significant distance from the halfway line and hammered a powerful low shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. It was now 5-1!
The party was now in full swing at the Volksparkstadion, and Königsdörffer and Selke joined in when they received a standing ovation upon both being substituted in the 69th minute. Karabec and Glatzel came on and brought some fresh legs onto the pitch. Last season’s joint 2. Bundesliga top scorer Glatzel showed that he still has an appetite for goals when his curling effort went just narrowly wide. Karabec meanwhile had a chance in the 82nd minute, but was denied by Ulm’s Thiede from a tight angle. Daniel Elfadli finally put the cherry on top in the 86th minute, as he made it 6-1 just before the party got underway on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion. The Rothosen are back. HSV have been promoted to the Bundesliga!
Match facts:
Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Poreba (81’ Richter), Elfadli, Muheim (81’ Stange) - Meffert, Königsdörffer (69’ Karabec), Reis - Sahiti (46’ Balde), Selke (69’ Glatzel), Dompe
SSV Ulm: Thiede - Allgeier, Gaal, Strompf - Rösch, Brandt, Dressel, Keller (46’ Chessa), Krattenmacher (61’ Ludwig) - Higl, Telalovic (61’ Röser)
Goals: 0-1 Gaal (7’), 1-1 Reis (10’), 2-1 Königsdörffer (42’), 3-1 Selke (45’+4), 4-1 Strompf (OG, 50’), 5-1 Königsdörffer (62’), 6-1 Elfadli (86’)
Attendance: 57,000 (sold-out)
Referee: Max Burda (Berlin)
Yellow cards: Muheim, Sahiti, Mikelbrencis / Gaal