03.03.2018
HSV can’t undo ten-man Mainz
There were plenty of chances for the Rothosen to claim a huge three points, but a combination of great goalkeeping, the woodwork and bad luck meant Hamburg were only able to take a point off their rivals in the battle for survival.
It was a deeply disappointing day for everyone at Hamburger SV on matchday 25 in the Bundesliga, as the Rothosen were held to a 0-0 draw by 1. FSV Mainz 05. The hosts were the better side in front of 46,739 spectators at the Volksparkstadion, but despite a number of clear-cut chances, including a Filip Kostic penalty, they were unable to find the net. The Serbian also had a goal chalked off in the first half, while the Zerofivers were forced to play out the final half an hour with ten men.
Filip Kostic worked his socks off, but luck was not on his side.
PLENTY OF CHANCES...
HSV coach Bernd Hollerbach made just the one change to the side that started the Nordderby, with Sven Schipplock given the nod up front ahead of André Hahn. The new man had a huge chance to open the scoring after only five minutes too, but a big right hand from Mainz’s debuting goalkeeper Florian Müller kept him at bay. HSV dictated the play in the opening stages, while the visitors looked to use their quick counterattacking skills to their advantage. The only time Mainz got beyond the solid Hamburg defence though, Christian Mathenia was in place to save from Robin Quaison in the 14th minute. The only noteworthy chances from then on out came at the other end. Filip Kostic must have thought he’d scored when he volleyed Schipplock’s lay off on target from just ten yards out, only for Müller to push the ball onto the crossbar from point-blank range. Kostic did have the ball in the back of the net moments later, however, but celebrations were cut short when the video assistant referee correctly ruled the goal out for offside. HSV didn’t let that dishearten them and continued to push for that elusive goal. By half time, it was 5-1 to the home side in terms of corners, and 10-1 in terms of shots on goal. The only statistic that didn’t follow suit was the scoreline.
Sven Schipplock impressed up front and was involved in almost every dangerous HSV attack.
...BUT THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY GOES BEGGING
The change of ends did nothing to stop HSV’s dominance on the pitch, but they could do nothing to stop the luck going against them in the second half too. Just minutes after the restart, the ball dropped for Rick van Drongelen from a corner, and again it was the crossbar that was left rattling. Mainz switched up their tactics in the second 45 and were making it more difficult for Hollerbach’s men to find gaps at the back, albeit without ever offering a threat themselves. A long ball did produce a golden chance to break the deadlock though, when substitute Luca Waldschmidt was fouled in the box while trying to control the pass. Leon Balogun was shown his second yellow of the game, meaning HSV would be playing the final 30 minutes with a one-man advantage, but they would rather have had a 1-0 lead. Instead, Kostic’s penalty was batted away by the young Florian Müller, and ten-man Mainz began to park the bus. Hamburg gave their absolute all right up until the final whistle, but even after the introduction of Fiete Arp and André Hahn as well, there was no way through the Zerofivers stubborn defence and the Rothosen had to settle for a goalless draw.
Match facts:
Hamburger SV:
Mathenia - Sakai, Papadopoulos, van Drongelen, Douglas - Jung (74’ Arp), Walace - Jatta (59’ Hahn), Hunt (46’ Waldschmidt), Kostic - Schipplock
1. FSV Mainz 05:
Müller - Balogun, Bell, Diallo - Donati, Holtmann (46’ Brosinski) - Gbamin - Serdar, Latza - Muto (87’ Ujah), Quaison (77’ Onisiwo)
Goals:
-
Attendance:
46,739
Referee:
Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Yellow cards:
Walace, Arp, Douglas / Holtmann, Balogun, Gbamin, Bell
Red cards:
- / Balogun (61’, second yellow)
No show from HSV
HSV head coach Markus Gisdol was forced into changing his team ahead of the trip south. Long term injured first choice keeper Adler was still recovering from a broken rib before his understudy Mathenia also got injured and was ruled out of the matchday 31 encounter. Up stepped under-21 stopper Mikel to the fray. Key winger Kostic who scored the only goal of the game between the two sides on matchday 14 was suspended so his place went to Austrian Gregoritsch. Ostrzolek got the nod at left back ahead of Douglas Santos while Walace replaced Jung in defensive midfield. Gisdol made four changes in all to the side which lost 1-2 at home to relegation certainties Darmstadt last time out. The new-look formation struggled early on. Augsburg created three top scoring opportunities within the opening 20 minutes. New keeper Mikel managed to keep out efforts by Kohr and Schmid and was grateful to be able to watch a Stafylidis free kick fizz narrowly wide of target. On 22 minutes the visitors were in luck again as an Altintop effort struck the left hand post with Mikel beaten. It seemed to the capacity crowd including yet another sold out contingent of travelling HSV faithful that it weould only be a matter of time before the home side would break the deadlock and they did as Altintop rounded off two counter attacks on 28 and 41 minutes to make the halftime score 2-0 to Augsburg. Mickel was powerless on both occasions and was HSV’s best man before the break.
Deserved defeat
Lasogga came on for Gregoritsch and Jung replaced Walace at the start of the second half as Gisdol opted for a two-pronged attack. Later Jatta replaced Ostrzolek. The ploy simply didn’t work as the Rothosen had more of the ball than in the previous half but were completely harmless in front of goal. Augsburg played a much more intelligent game and struck the woodwork again through Baier. That superior intelligence was underlined late on as Augsburg struck twice through Max and substitute Bobadilla (76., 85.). It was game over for HSV who failed to threaten until the 84th minute for Lasogga and Wood to miss chances. It was simply not good enough and the Rothosen remain just one point above the relegation play off spot in the table. Matchday 22 sees Gisdol and Co. host Mainz who are level on points but two places better due to a superior goal difference. Only a win will do as the teams lock horns at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg next Sunday (07.05.17, 3.30 PM).
Match details:
FC Augsburg:
Hitz - Verhaegh, Gouweleeuw, Hinteregger, Stafylidis - Kohr, D. Baier (88. Callsen-Bracker) - Schmid, Halil Altintop (80. Bobadilla), Max (87. Ji) - Finnbogason
HSV:
Mickel - Diekmeier, K. Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Ostrzolek (63. Jatta) - Sakai, Walace (46. Jung) - Gregoritsch (46. Lasogga), Holtby, Hunt - Wood
Goals:
1:0 Altintop (28.), 2:0 Altintop (41.), 3:0 Max (76.), 4:0 Bobadilla (85.)
Booked:
Baier (48.) / Mavraj (33.), Gregoritsch (44.), Ostrzolek (51.), Holtby (72.)
Referee:
Manuel Gräfe (Berlin)
Att:
30.660 (sold out)
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