Match report
24.09.17
0-3! HSV lose in Leverkusen
A brace of goals either side of halftime (20./83) by Kevin Volland and a further strike from by Alario (23.) saw the Rothosen lose their fourth consecutive Bundesliga game at the BayArena on matchday 6.
HSV ended their English week with out any points. Markus Gisdol’s men lost 0-3 away at Bayer Leverkusen in a matchday 6 encounter at the BayArena in Leverkusen on Sunday evening (24.09). Two first half goals through first Volland (20.) and then Alario (23.) inside three minutes saw the home side lead 2-0 at the break. Hamburg coach Gisdol tried to turn things around by making attacking substitutions but the visitors could only look on as Volland finally put the game to bed with his second goal after 83 minutes.
Two goals in three minutes
Despite losing 0-3 at home to Dortmund in midweek, the Rothosen got a standing ovation for their undying efforts after the final whistle at the Volksparkstadion. Because of the long term injuries to key players Gisdol chose the same starting eleven to face Leverkusen. Like in that game HSV hustled Leverkusen early on, not allowing them to settle on the ball, forcing them to try their luck with long distance efforts. That went well for the opening 20 minutes too. Until then the home side had created just one chance which ended in Bender sending an effort over the bar of Hamburg stopper Mathenia (9.). His Bayer counterpart Leno had to be on his guard as he kept out a shot from around 20 metres out by recent signing Salihovic. Bayer then began a period of pressure during which they scored twice in only three minutes. Leon Bailey who had a superb game for Leverkusen crossed the ball onto the head of German international striker Volland who controlled the ball before firing the home side in front (20.). The Jamaican 20 year old midfielder then set up Bayer’s second goal as he found Alario with a pinpoint cross into the Hamburg box who only had a simple close range tap in to double Leverkusen’s lead (23.).
That double whammy rocked the Rothosen who needed a little time to recover. A free kick from Salihovic ended in Hahn get a header in which came to nothing (31.). That was about the total threat of the visitors before the break. Then a superb move involving Bailey and Baumgartlinger would have made it 3-0 had Mehmedi not somehow managed to blast the ball over the bar from only three metres out. The home side deservedly took a two goal lead into halftime with them, leaving the maximum contingent of travelling HSV shaking their heads in disbelief.
Game over late on
Gisdol reacted by bringing on Jatta and Waldschmidt for Salihovic and Walace for the start of the second half and the visitors began to make ground towards the home goal. It took them around a quarter of an hour though before they created their first chance after the break as Holtby tested Leno with a shot from the edge of the penalty area (58.).
With HSV having to throw everything forward, Leverkusen had more space to mount attacks of their own. One of those lightning quick breaks Aranguiz played a nice one two with Volland but failed to put the game to bed as he came off worst against keeper Mathenia (62.). The Hamburg keeper was in the spotlight again ten minutes later by giving away an indirect free kick for handling a back pass. The free kick from only 11 metres out was blasted into the wall twice by Bailey and Aranguiz.
At the other end Hahn missed HSV’s best chance to pull a goal back (70.). The Rothosen lacked penetration late in he game and seven minutes from the end conceded a third and final goal as Volland completed a brace from only five metres out to make the final score 3-0 to Leverkusen. Gisdol’s next challenge comes on matchday 7 as the Rothosen host bitter northern rivals Werder Bremen at the Volksparkstadion next Saturday evening (29.09.17, 6.30 PM). Surely only a win will do from that game.
Match details:
Bayer Leverkusen: Leno - Henrichs, Tah, Bender, Wendell - Mehmedi (68. Brandt), Baumgartlinger - Alario (85. Pohjanpalo), Aranguiz (84. Kohr) - Bailey, Volland
HSV: Mathenia - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Sakai - Walace (46. Waldschmidt), Jung, Salihovic (46. Jatta) - Hahn (82. Ito), Wood, Holtby
Goals: 1:0 Volland (20.), 2:0 Alario (23.), 3:0 Volland (83.)
Booked: Wendell (41.), Aranguiz (75.) / Walace (22.), Papadopoulos (26.)
Referee: Dr. Robert Kampka (Mainz)
Att: 27,601