2–0! – HSV win friendly against FC Copenhagen

Before kick-off, the fans paid tribute to HSV legend Peter “Eiche” Nogly, who passed away on 24 September, aged 79, as well as a Copenhagen supporter who recently lost his life in a traffic accident. Despite the circumstances, both sets of supporters created an impressive atmosphere from the very beginning of the friendly, including a joint tifo spanning the entire stadium.

The match itself got off to a fairly subdued start, with possession shared almost amicably between the two sides. In the fifth minute, Vieira sent a cross into the visitors’ penalty area during the first promising attack, but Poulsen narrowly failed to connect. Eight minutes later, the Danes threatened for the first time: after receiving a pass from Robert Silva, Olsen attempted to sneak the ball past Heuer Fernandes from a tight angle inside the penalty area, but the HSV goalkeeper stood firm.

HSV were forced into an early, unplanned substitution in the 19th minute. The injured Poulsen was replaced by Stange, who had only returned to Hamburg that morning from international duty with Germany’s Under-20 side.

The previously quiet match began to pick up pace. Stange won the ball back near the Copenhagen penalty area and squared it to Vieira, who could not quite get the ball under control in a promising position and missed the chance to get a shot away. Just a minute later, Adeline sent Stange through, but his effort from the left-hand side of the penalty area sailed well wide.

The Danes then began to make their presence felt in the final third, but a pass towards Huescas at the far post went astray (38'). At the other end, Adeline played a low ball from the left wing into the path of Vieira, whose 20-yard effort flew well over the crossbar.

In the 43rd minute, Adeline himself came close to giving HSV the lead. Sambi Lokonga picked out the Frenchman superbly, but Adeline was denied by goalkeeper Ramaj from close range in a one-on-one situation. The move was subsequently ruled out for offside in the build-up anyway. The sides therefore went into the break level at 0–0.

HSV began the second half with a change at the goalie position, as 18-year-old Dickes replaced Heuer Fernandes between the posts. There was then an entertaining moment following a brief stoppage: with it unclear who should have possession, captains Remberg and Delaney settled the matter with a game of rock, paper, scissors. Delaney won, and Dickes kicked the ball over to the visitors’ side in the 47th minute.

Hamburg then created the first opportunity of the second half through Vieira. The Portuguese winger broke into the penalty area and curled the ball towards the far corner with his stronger left foot, but Ramaj produced a good save to turn it behind for a corner (51'). Further chances were initially hard to come by.

In the 73rd minute, Nandja made two strong challenges against Myrie and earned applause from the stands. Things then got loud at the Volksparkstadion twice in quick succession. First, Stange played a long ball towards Vieira, but the number 20 took it too far ahead of himself and was unable to make the most of the one-on-one opportunity against Ramaj (75').

A minute later, Muheim struck the ball with his left foot from the edge of the penalty area, narrowly missing the right-hand post (76').

In the closing stages, HSV were finally rewarded for their efforts. Substitute Ojo delivered a low cross from the right, which fellow substitute Amoako turned into the net – 1–0!

Then, immediately before the final whistle, Remberg added a second. Following a free-kick from Nadir on the right, the captain battled his way through a crowd of players in the centre and headed the ball over the line to make it 2–0 (89').

That proved to be the final score in a friendly of a very special kind.