Match report

Home unbeaten run ended by Darmstadt

HSV lost 1-2 at home to rock bottom Darmstadt at the Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon. Darmstadt scored twice within as many minutes through Aytac Sulu (51.) and Felix Platte (53.) to stun the 54,000 strong crowd. HSV’s goal 3 minutes into injury time at the end of the goal came by way of an unlucky own goal scored by Fabian Holland.

HSV’s fine nine game unbeaten home run lay in pieces on the pitch of the Volksparkstadion on Saturday afternoon (22.04) as they lost 1-2 to bottom placed Darmstadt on Bundesliga matchday 30. The home side struggled to get a grip on what turned out to be a tense and niggly game. After the break the visitors pounced on two mistakes by HSV to score twice in as many minutes through Aytac Sulu (51.) and Felix Platte (53.). The Rothosen fought hard but only had an own goal scored by Fabian Holland three minutes into second half injury time to show for their efforts.

Drab and difficult first half

Home boss Markus Gisdol made several changes to the team which had lost so disappointingly 1-2 in the derby in Bremen last weekend. In central defence Greek international Papadopoulos returned from suspension, allowing Jung to move into defensive midfield to replace Walace. Bobby Wood returned from injury to take the place of Gregoritsch up front. The latter was on the bench. Gisdol gave Douglas the nod at left back ahead of Ostrzolek. The new-look Rothosen line-up needed time to find a way into the game but began to take control. The home side created goal mouth action but failed to capitalise. Hamburg won four first half corners, none of which brought success.

Although looking dangerous down the wings, Gisdol’s side failed to create any really clear cut chances. They either lacked accuracy in front of goal or Darmstadt keeper Esser somehow managed to get some part of his body on the ball to prevent possible goals. It was mostly one way traffic towards the Darmstadt goal but the visitors remained determined in defence, ensuring that the score was 0-0 at the break.

Christian Mathenia had almost nothing to do but still had to pick the ball out of his own net twice. It was a bitter game for him and HSV.

Bitter second half

Six minutes into the second half Darmstadt took the lead as a lapse in concentration caused through a corner which somehow found its way unchallenged to the far post where Sulu was lurking to put the visitors ahead from close range (51.). That goal shocked the Rothosen who fell further behind just two minutes later as poor passing on the edge of their own area resulted with no less that three Darmstadt men bearing down on Mathenia unchallenged. Platte made it 2-0 to Darmstadt who until kick off had now one a single point away from home in 14 games. The second goal more or less put the game beyond HSV. Gisdol brought on Jatta and Gregoritsch but to no avail. HSV’s only goal of the game came in the third minute of injury time at the end of the second half. The fact that it was an own goal by Holland was typical for the kind of afternoon the Rothosen experienced. Other results went in favour of Gisdol’s team so HSV remain just one place above the relegation play off place ahead of matchday 31, which sees Gisdol and Co. Travel to fellow strugglers FC Augsburg.

Match details:

HSV: Mathenia - Diekmeier (57. Jatta), K. Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Douglas Santos - Sakai, Jung - Hunt, Holtby, Kostic (70. Gregoritsch) - Wood

Darmstadt 98: Esser - Sirigu, Banggaard, Sulu, Holland - Kamavuaka (70. Rosenthal), Hamit Altintop - Heller, Gondorf, Vrancic (80. Sam) - Platte (63. Schipplock)

Goals: 0:1 Sulu (51.), 0:2 Platte (53.), 1:2 Holland (90+3, og)

Att: 56.132

Booked: Kostic (13.), Hunt (57), Mavraj (81.) / Kamavuaka (57.), Banggard (75.)

Referee: Sascha Stegemann (Niederkassel)