Team

Holtby’s spot-kick sees HSV defeat CSKA Moscow

Die Rothosen have won their training camp friendly against the Russian Cup-Winners thanks to a Lewis Holtby penalty.

HSV made it three wins out of four during the pre-season. Die Rothosen beat CSKA Moscow 1-0 on Wednesday (11th July). Lewis Holtby scored the game’s only goal, a penalty in the 73rd minute. Hamburg took on the Russian Premier League runners-up and Cup-Winners in Draßburg, about 30km from their training camp in Bad Erlach, Austria. Christian Titz’s side showed a lot of defensive improvement after their 5-1 loss to Aarhus last Friday.

Changes paid off

Without the services of Julian Pollersbeck (gluteal muscle injury), Aaron Hunt (adductor), Tobias Knost (dead leg), Bakery Jatta (muscle problems) and Douglas Santos, HSV had noticeably more possession. However, they lacked attacking menace in the final third. A Lasogga free-kick (27’) was their only threat on the opposition goal in the first half. CSKA, who were lacking the likes of Akinfeev, Fernandes, Dzagoev and Golovin due to the World Cup, had a few chances in the first 30 minutes through Gordyzshenko (17’), Chalov (25’) and Vitinjo (29’). Yet a goal eluded the 2005 UEFA Cup-Winners.

During the break, Titz made five changes. Steinmann, Bates Ambrosius, Janjicic and Wintzheimer came on for Moritz, Jung, Jairo, Kwarteng and Lasogga. Narey slotted into right midfield with Ambrosius sitting behind in the back four. Three chances then came in quick succession through Holtby (50’), Narey (51’) and Janjicic (56’), yet it took until the 72nd minute to make the breakthrough. Narey was taken down unfairly in the box and Holtby converted the penalty to make it 1-0 (73’).

Two minutes before the final whistle, there was a heart-in-mouth moment in the HSV goal-mouth. Mickel saved a one-on-one, but only parried it clear and Ambrosius had to clear the follow-up shot off the line before Mickel pounced on the loose ball before an onrushing CSKA forward had the chance to fire a third time. The game ended 1-0 and Titz was delighted about the narrow victory. “I don’t want to blow the match out of proportion, but every win is important for the team’s self-confidence and morale” said the head coach. “We had a lot of possession in the first half didn’t put a lot of pressure on their goal. There was a considerable improvement in that respect in the second half. We made more runs at their defence and had subsequent chances on goal. The younger players impressed us, too. They brought a lot of energy to the game.”