Match report

2-1! HSV come from behind to beat Frankfurt

The Rothosen claimed a huge three points away at the Eagles in the battle to stay up. Albert Grønbæk (51’) and Fabio Vieira (59’) scored for HSV after Uzun (48’) had put the hosts ahead.

Hamburger SV won 2-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday (2nd May) on matchday 32 of the Bundesliga. In front of a sell-out crowd of 59,400 at Deutsche Bank Park, the two sides made an even start before HSV increasingly took control and came closest when Fabio Vieira struck the woodwork. The goals then arrived after the restart. Uzun gave the hosts a slightly surprising 1-0 lead (48’), but HSV hit back through Grønbæk (51’) and Fabio Vieira (59’) to turn the game around and earn three points for an excellent away performance.

No goals at first..

Head coach Merlin Polzin made one change to his starting XI following the recent 2-1 defeat against Hoffenheim, with Sambi Lokonga coming in for the injured Mikelbrencis, who missed out at short notice with an adductor problem. HSV, playing in all white, created the first opening of note through captain Capaldo, whose low ball in from the right – where the visitors looked lively early on – was spilled by Zetterer. Vieira was crowded out as he tried to follow up (4’). Frankfurt then enjoyed a little more of the ball and produced their first effort around the 15-minute mark, with Uzun testing Heuer Fernandes with a shot on the turn towards the near corner. The HSV goalkeeper was able to get down quickly and push it away.

After another ten evenly contested minutes, referee Aytekin called the first drinks break of the game, as May ushered in temperatures over 25°C for the first time this year. HSV came out of it with two immediate attacking statements. Sambi Lokonga first fired in a low shot inside the box that Zetterer again failed to hold. From the same passage of play, Vieira then struck a superb effort from more than 20 yards against the crossbar – the 12th time HSV have hit the woodwork this season (26’). Jatta’s effort from range shortly afterwards made it 5-1 in shots for the visitors, who would have deserved to be ahead as the game reached the half-hour mark. Frankfurt, who had offered little for long spells, then went close just before half time as Uzun was twice denied by Heuer Fernandes (38’). The sides went in level at 0-0, which was met by whistles from the home crowd.

...before a spectacular restart

HSV initially failed to pick up where they had left off after the break and briefly lost their shape. Eintracht punished that ruthlessly. Burkhardt first missed a great chance to open the scoring (46’), before Uzun made his fourth promising effort count to put Frankfurt 1-0 up (48’). HSV responded instantly. After a corner, Omari picked out Grønbæk with a cross and the Dane finished crisply into the bottom-left corner from around 14 yards – the equaliser coming just two minutes and ten seconds after HSV had fallen behind. It was a first Bundesliga goal for the winter loan signing, and there was more to come. The 24-year-old soon tested Zetterer with a direct free-kick before clipping a pass into the box for Fabio Vieira, who needed no second invitation when left one-on-one with the Frankfurt goalkeeper. The Portuguese brought the ball down on his chest and finished coolly into the far corner to make it 2-1 to HSV.

With the lead behind them, HSV looked to take control and focused above all on staying compact defensively. Polzin made two double substitutions at different stages to bring fresh legs onto the pitch, including the returning Vuskovic. He was immediately needed as a defensive leader after the previously assured Torunarigha was forced off following a heavy aerial collision with Knauff. That left Polzin having to make another injury-enforced change, having already withdrawn matchwinner Grønbæk when he picked up a knock. With goals, substitutions and injury stoppages all adding up, HSV had to defend their way through ten minutes of additional time in what had become a real battle, but they held firm. Heuer Fernandes made the key late save, keeping out a shot on the turn from substitute Ebnoutalib (90’+2) to ensure HSV left Frankfurt with a huge three points in the fight to stay up.

Match facts:

Eintracht Frankfurt: Zetterer – Amenda, Skhiri (61’ Kristensen), R. Koch, Brown – Larsson (82’ Ebnoutalib) – Knauff (82’ Amaimouni-Echghouyab), Uzun, O. Højlund (61’ Chaibi), Kalimuendo – Burkardt (61’ Bahoya)

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes – Capaldo, Torunarigha (83’ Poulsen), Omari – Jatta (68’ Gocholeishvili), Remberg, Lokonga (79’ Elfadli), Grønbæk (78’ Vuskovic) – Fabio Vieira, Glatzel (68’ Downs), Königsdörffer

Goals: 1-0 Uzun (48’), 1-1 Grønbæk (51’), 1-2 Fabio Vieira (59’)

Attendance: 59,400 (sold out)

Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberasbach)

Yellow cards: O. Højlund, Uzun, Kalimuendo, Bahoya / Capaldo

Red cards: Kristensen / -