Match Report
26.11.16
2-2 – shared spoils in derby clash
HSV still await their first league win of the season. The Rothosen drew 2-2 at home to old rivals Werder Bremen at the packed Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon as the teams locked horns on matchday 12. The home side looked closer to a winning goal than the visitors.
The 105th northern derby between HSV and Werder Bremen ended 2-2 in front of 55,237 inside the Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon (26.11). So coach Markus Gisdol and his men still wait for the first league win of the season. The home side created plenty of chances but once again lacked scoring prowess. Hamburg man of the match was without doubt Michael Gregoritsch who scored both of his side’s goals (3., 28.), firing the home side ahead twice, only to see Werder equalise through Bartels (14.) and Gnabry (45.), who made it 2-2 with the last kick of the opening half.
Blistering HSV start...
For the first time since he joined the club two months ago Hamburg head coach Gisdol was able to pick the same side twice, opting to stick with the line-up that had fought so well away to Hoffenheim last time out. The team began at a blistering pace. It only took three minutes for the deadlock to be broken after Gregoritsch got his head to a Holtby cross. The visitors seemed unimpressed from the amazing atmosphere and steadily played their game, getting forward as often as possible. With the home die also in attacking mood it was thrilling entertainment with chances for both sides.
One of those chances was converted by Bremen’s Bartels to make it 1-1 on (14.). HSV were still the more dangerous team in front of goal and on 28 minutes and took the lead again after superb work by Müller set Gregoritsch up for his and HSV’s second goal. Tough tackles was the order of the day as both Bundesliga strugglers battled it out for crucial points. Werder struck again just as everyone was thinking of the break. A defensive mix up allowed Gnabry to equalise with the final kick of the first half. The game was nicely poised at 2-2 as Referee Brych blew for half time.
...injury time chance missed
As wild and crazy the first half was, the second began at a much more subdued pace, as both teams focused on stabilising their respective defences early on. That of course meant that there was a lack of goal mouth action. When anything did happen it was usually by an individual as opposed to flowing team play. There followed chances through a Gregoritsch header, a Kostic shot and an effort from Diekmeier but the ball simply wouldn’t go in.
At that point in time Werder defended deep, waiting to hit the home side on the break. Those breaks were rarely threatening. Bremen boss Nouri brought on legendary striker Claudio Pizarro to freshen things up in his front line. Gisdol introduced Lasogga but neither striker was able to change the score line. The final chance of the game was deep into injury time as Hotlby got a shot in that came to nothing. The 105th meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw – about the right result on the balance of play. The Rothosen are in action again next Sunday (04.12.16, 3.30 PM) as Gisdol and Co. make their way south to take on SV Darmstadt 98, who like Werder and Ingolstadt are four points ahead of bottom placed HSV who have four points.
Match details:
HSV: Mathenia- Diekmeier (64. Waldschmidt), Djourou, Jung, Santos - G. Sakai, Ostrzolek - N. Müller, Holtby, Kostic - Gregoritsch (82. Lasogga)
Werder Bremen: Drobny - R. Bauer, Veljkovic, Moisander, S. Garcia - Fritz, Petsos (45. Bargfrede)- Bartels (87. Hajrovic), Junuzovic, Gnabry (69. Pizarro)- M. Kruse
Goals: 1:0 Gregoritsch (3.), 1:1 Bartels (14.), 2:1 Gregoritsch (28.), 2:2 Gnabry (45.)
Att: 55.237
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)
Booked: Djourou (72.), N. Müller (88.) / Petsos (11.), Bargfrede (70.)