Match report
19.11.17
HSV beaten 2-0 by Schalke in Gelsenkirchen
HSV lost their Sunday afternoon match against Schalke 04. Franco di Santo’s penalty after a Gideon Jung foul and Burgstaller’s tap in after the break were enough for Schalke to pick up all three points in what was otherwise an even and hard-fought encounter.
In a game of few chances for either team, Schalke were the more clinical, converting one either side of half-time to emerge 2-0 winners. Franco di Santo broke the deadlock from the spot after a Gideon Jung foul and Burgstaller made the points safe for Schalke, tapping in after a rapid counter. Hunt hit the post for HSV and the Rothosen also went close through Waldschmidt and Arp, but the struggles to find the back of the net away from home continue despite a strong performance.
Behind to a penalty
It was an even, cagey start to the game and both teams took time to settle on an unstable pitch. Looking to break on the counter, HSV nearly went behind to a McKennie header; the American midfielder glanced his header just wide of Mathenia’s right post from a Konoplyanka cross. It was shortly after that the hosts took the lead. Konoplyanka the danger man again, cutting in from the left wing, was bundled over by Gideon Jung. No hesitation from the referee – penalty. Franco di Santo assumed spot kick duties, sending Mathenia the wrong way to break the deadlock. At the other end, Ito was causing problems for the Schalke defence, playing in Arp for the Rothosen’s best chance of the half. Arp showed nifty skills to evade the challenges of Schalke’s defenders but poked his shot just wide of the right post. Gisdol reacted to his team going behind by making an early substitution. Ito, who was already on a yellow card, was replaced by Luca Waldschmidt after 35 minutes. Our Germany U21s international looked to make an instant impact, and very almost equalised for Hamburg. The striker was played in by a Hunt through-ball but the angle proved too tight and the ball was gathered by Fährmann.
Arp to Hunt, and centimetres from scoring
HSV continued in the same vein after half-time, showing real determination going forward. Dennis Diekmeier made a couple of strong runs down his right wing, but the real danger moment came through Arp again. Much like Konoplyanka’s run leading to the first-half penalty, Arp cut past the Schalke defence before playing in Hunt with a slick through ball. And so close! Hunt’s left-footed strike hit the outside of the post, going out for a goal kick. Hamburg’s momentum was cut short when tempers flared up after a Jung tackle of Max Meyer. Both were shown yellow, while Papadopoulos was also given a card for his involvement. Shortly after, Schalke made the points clear through Burgstaller. Quick passing from the hosts moved the ball through Hamburg box, and when Papadopoulos just missed his tackle, Burgstaller was there to tap in. The final moments of the match were a formality, as Schalke kept possession and slowed down the tempo. Bobby Wood was brought on for Sakai before Hahn replaced Kostic with eight minutes to go, but it was too little too late and Hamburg ended a tough afternoon in Gelsenkirchen with a 2-0 defeat. The team can take some positives from the match, the return of Gideon Jung in midfield, while Arp, Ito and also Waldschmidt hint at what could be for Hamburg, but this was always going to be a tough encounter away to a side who now move up to second in the Bundesliga. Now, all focus on next weekend’s home match against Hoffenheim.
MATCH FACTS:
Schalke 04: Fährmann - Stambouli, Naldo, Kehrer - D. Caligiuri, M. Meyer (90+2’ Nastasic), Oczipka - McKennie, Konoplyanka (87’ Schöpf) - Di Santo (46’ Embolo), G. Burgstaller
Hamburger SV: Mathenia - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Douglas - Jung, Sakai (69’ Wood) - Ito (35’ Waldschmidt), Hunt, Kostic (83’ Hahn) - Arp
Goals: 1-0 Di Santo (17’, pen.), 2-0 Burgstaller (78’)
Attendance: 62,271 (sold out)
Referee: Robert Hartmann (Wangen)
Yellow cards: Naldo (53’), Embolo (55’), Meyer (74’) / Ito (28’), Jung (74’), Papadopoulos (74’)