Match Report
12.03.17
2-1! Kostic and Wood on target as HSV beat Gladbach
HSV came from a goal down to beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, in front of 52,501 on Sunday evening in a matchday 24 encounter. Filip Kostic /36.) and Bobby Wood (80.) were on the mark for the Rothosen after Gladbach’s Christensen had given the visitors the lead after 23 minutes.
The Rothosen extended their fine unbeaten Bundesliga home run to seven games on Sunday evening (12.03.17), beating Europa League participants Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 in the game which closed matchday 24. USA striker Bobby Wood scored a late winner ten minutes from full time. The game was full of fireworks especially in the first half during which Gladbach took the lead through Christensen on 23 minutes. Filip Kostic drew the home side level on 36 minutes. The sides were level at the break. After half time though the massive crowd of 52,501 saw an entertaining second half with a late winner from Wood to give HSV a crucial win they richly deserved.
Crazy first half
Hamburg coach Markus Gisdol was forced to change the team which had beaten Hertha BSC at home last time out. Right winger Müller missed out after suffering with a cold for most of the week leading up to Gladbach’s much-anticipated second viosdit to the Volksparkstadion in only 11 days. They had previously knocked HSV out of the DFB Cup by winning 2-1. Kostic replaced Müller - a decision which was to pay off hansomely. Hunt also started the game switching from left to right opposite Kostic. It would be the latter who would play a key part in the game as he headed home a wonderful pinpoint cross by Diekmeier to equalise for the Rothosen who had fallen behind to a goal by Christensen on 23 minutes. The pulsating game gave the huge Hamburg crowd little chance to catch their collective breath but nobody was complaining!
Although the home side created the better early chances it was Gladbach who broke the deadlock on 23 minutes as Christensen netted for the side with the best Bundesliga away record. Hamburg stopper Adler needed two top drawer saves to deny Drmic and Herrmann. HSV also had two goals ruled out for offside. It was all going on at the Volksparkstadion! As Kostic nodded home a perfect Diekmeier cross the Rothosen failed to celebrate right away, waiting for the referee to point to the middle. As he did the place went mad to say the least. That was the third time that the stadium had gone up. The first times were as first Wood then Holtby had goals disallowed for offside. The referee was right on both occasions (28., 35.). Goal celebrations were much sweeter on 36 minutes as Kostic finally scored a “proper” goal. Nine minutes later the fist half came to an end.
HSV turn it around!
The game somewhat evened out in the second half, with Gladbach seemingly content with a point and focusing on defending waiting and hoping for a chance to hit HSV on the break. The Rothosen adopted the opposite approach, taking the game to the visitors whenever possible. Hamburg were unlucky again as a third goal was disallowed for offside. This time Papadopoulos has nicely nodded home a cross by Hunt (64.). But Gisdol’s men were not to be denied and kept fighting for that second and vital goal.
The fact that that goal came from Bobby Wood ten minutes from time was anything but a coincidence. The in-form American was a thorn in Gladbach’s side all game and in the end the visitors were glad to see the back of him. Wood kept them guessing for 90 minutes in a sterling performance by the popular striker. That Kostic had equalised for Hamburg after getting a late call up to arms by Gisdol was the icing on the cake. HSV’s defence was mostly tight, not allowing the visitors much of a sniff of the ball. In all the 2-1 win was well deserved. Aytekin added on three minutes at the end and when the final whistle sounded the Volksparkstadion’s roof was lifted off with a scream of part joy and relief. HSV are on their travels next time out as they take on Eintracht Frankfurt next Saturday evening (18.03.17, 6.30 PM) on matchday 25.
Match details:
HSV: Adler - Diekmeier , K. Papadopoulos , Jung , Ostrzolek - Ekdal , G. Sakai - Hunt (90. Lasogga) , Holtby (70. Gregoritsch) , Kostic (87. Douglas) - Wood
Borussia Mönchengladbach: Sommer - Elvedi (76. Jantschke) , A. Christensen , Vestergaard , Wendt - Kramer , Strobl - Herrmann (67. Hahn), Dahoud , Hofmann (57. Johnson)- Drmic
Goals: 0:1 Christensen (23.), 1:1 Kostic (36.), 2:1 Wood (80.)
Att: 52.501
Referee: Deniz Aytekin (Oberaspach)
Booked: Papadopoulos (22.) / Strobl (37.), Herrmann (51.)