Match report
05.03.17
1-0: Crucial HSV win over Hertha
HSV beat Hertha BSC 1-0 at home, in the final game of Bundesliga matchday 23 on Sunday evening. Albin Ekdal opened his scoring account at the Volksparkstadion and it turned out to be the winning goal.
A crowd of 44,445 gathered at the chilly Volksparkstadion in Hamburg to watch the Rothosen collect three crucial points in their relegation battle. Coach Markus Gisdol’s side scraped a 1-0 victory over top six side Hertha BSC thanks to a first ever HSV goal by Albin Ekdal. The home side looked the better team for long stretches of what turned out to be a decent game. On 19 minutes it took a superb reflex save by Hertha keeper Jarstein to deny Hamburg’s Müller from opening the scoring on 19 minutes. There were no goals during the opening half. After the break Gisdol’s team fought hard and were finally rewarded with a goal on 77 minutes as Ekdal chose the perfect time to score his first ever goal for the Rothosen.
Müller’s missed sitter...
Markus Gisdol rang the changes to the team which lost 1-2 at home to Gladbach in a DFB Cup quarter final clash in midweek. Mavraj ruptured a tendon in his knee so his place in the team against the capital city side went to Jung, who lined up alongside Wallace. Diekmeier got the nod over captain Sakai at right back. „Diekei“ was also involved in the opening incident of the game as his blocked effort found Hunt 11 metres out inside the Berlin box. The striker crumbled under the tackle of Plattenhardt but the whistle of match referee Brych remained silent.
Around 15 minutes had gone by then and that incident signalled an offensive by the home side and Müller really should have put away a sitter on 19 minutes only to be defied by Hertha stopper Jarstein. The visitors were not attack-minded at all, seemingly preferring to focus on defence and hope for a chance to hit HSV on the break. HSV’s defence usually nipped any danger in the bud. The visitors did not have a single shot on goal during the opening 45 minutes, and because Müller had left his scoring boots at home the game was goalless at the break.
... Ekdal scores crucial winner
It was much of the same after the break for the crowd of almost 45,000, with HSV having more of the ball as the visitors waited for a chance to break. Hertha became more involved after the break, creating a few chances of their own. Ibisevic and Kalou fired their first two chances wide of target. They hardly threatened – unlike HSV.
Wood and Müller both had chances but the only oal of the game would ciome from an expected place to say the least. On 77 minutes Wood grittily won the ball off Plattenhardt before finding Hunt who in turn set up Ekdal who was backing up the attack. Ekdal sent a curling right foot shot past Jarstein who was left groping at air. That setback woke up the Berliners who began to invest more effort. HSV’s defence however were in miserly mood never allowing them to really threaten. At the other end further chances were squandered by Kostic, Müller und Wood. The game remained on a knife edge until Brych finally blew for time after three minutes of injury time. After that the relief almost blew the roof off the stadium as HSV extended their unbeaten home league record to six games. Matchday 24 sees the Rothosen entertain their DFB Cup midweek conquerers Borussia Mönchengladbach at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg on Sunday (12.03.17, 5.30 PM).
Match details:
HSV: Adler - Diekmeier, K. Papadopoulos, Jung, Ostrzolek - Walace (73. Sakai), Ekdal - Müller, Holtby (57. Kostic), Hunt (88. Gregoritsch) - Wood
Hertha BSC: Jarstein - Pekarik, S. Langkamp, Brooks, Plattenhardt - Stark (52. Duda), Skjelbred - Haraguchi (84. Esswein), Darida, Kalou - Ibisevic
Goal: 1:0 Ekdal (77.)
Att: 44.445
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (München)
Booked: Papadopoulos (55.) / Stark (41.), Darida (64.)