Match report
20.09.25
HSV celebrate 2-1 home victory over Heidenheim
Luka Vuskovic and Rayan Philippe were on target for the Rothosen as HSV clinched their first Bundesliga win in 2,688 days. Heidenheim also got on the score board late on through Adam Kölle.
Hamburger SV secured their first win of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season on matchday four as they defeated 1. FC Heidenheim 2-1 in front of 57,000 fans at the sold-out Volksparkstadion on Saturday. It was Vuskovic who put HSV ahead shortly before the break at the end of a level first period that was full of chances. The second half continued in similar fashion, with opportunities falling to both sides. Philippe then doubled the advantage in the 59th minute for 2-0. HSV looked to calm proceedings down somewhat after that; however, they nevertheless still passed up numerous chances for a third goal. As a result, the Rothosen were made to suffer a nervy eight minutes of stoppage time following Kölle’s goal back (90’+3), but in the end could celebrate their first Bundesliga victory for seven years.
Vuskovic delivers the special moment …
HSV head coach Merlin Polzin made four changes to his line-up that started the 5-0 defeat away in Munich, bringing in Gocholeishvili (following suspension), Elfadli, Dompe and Philippe from the off, while Mikelbrencis, Soumahoro, Capaldo and Rössing-Lelesiit all moved to the bench. Hamburg set up in a 3-4-3 formation, led by captain Miro Muheim, but found themselves under initial pressure and with defensive work to do, impressively clearing three early corner kicks for the visitors. Daniel Heuer Fernandes was then called into action on ten minutes as he produced a strong save to deny Luca Kerber’s header. A minute later, the HSV keeper came good once again, this time preventing Jan Schöppner’s from going in at the near post. Five minutes after that, ‘Ferro’ completed a trio of good saves in quick succession as he dived well to stop a powerful shot from Arijon Ibrahimovic, once again preventing the visitors from taking a deserved lead. HSV immediately responded with two strikes of their own, but both Elfadli from the left and Vieira from the right failed to fire through a packed FCH rear guard.
In the 27th minute, Vieira won the ball high up the pitch and played in Königsdörffer, whose lobbed attempt was just tipped over the bar by Ramaj as the forward surged through one-on-one. Muheim curled the resulting corner kick into a dangerous area, where Vuskovic sent an effort over from close range. While the 18-year-old Croatian had left fans in disbelief after missing this highly presentable opportunity, he then sent the Volkspark into ecstasy a quarter of an hour later as he notched the Rothosen’s first goal of the season. In the aftermath of a Dompe free kick, Vuskovic hammered a volley into the back of net from eight yards out for 1-0 and to complete one of those stories that only football can write. Almost immediately afterwards, the Tottenham loanee prevented a quick-fire equaliser when he cleared a Mikkel Kaufmann chance off the line, although it had been his own initial error in the build-up that led to the chance. Kerber also narrowly missed in added time at the end of the first half, which saw the score remain 1-0 at the break.
... before a chaotic end to proceedings
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second period, as Heidenheim took only a few minutes to register their first attempt. Kaufmann tried his luck once more from a tight angle on the left-hand side of the box, but once again could not beat Heuer Fernandes between the sticks. From almost mirror-image position, Dompe then got HSV’s opening shot after the break away, but failed to squeeze his effort past Ramaj, as did Remberg with a hopeful long-range attempt on the rebound. The goalkeepers continued to come up trumps for the time being, as Heuer Fernandes proceeded to keep out an Ibrahimovic strike from distance following another counter attack before Conteh placed his follow-up shot high of the HSV goal from a promising position. Vieira, who was playing outstandingly, went one better in supplying the perfect cross to Philippe after a one-two with Gocholeishvili. The Frenchman had the simple task of sticking his foot in where it mattered at the near post to make it 2-0.
With a 2-0 lead and a vociferous Volksparkstadion crowd behind them, HSV had another good chance when Philippe set up Königsdörffer, whose shot on the turn flashed wide of the left-hand upright. The Rothosen had now gained control of the game but spurned the next counter-attacking opportunity as well after Elfadli won the ball back well before Dompe struck off target following Vieira’s pass. The Rothosen’s subsequent chances also went begging, with both Vieira’s scissor kick and long-range shot, as well as Königsdörffer’s low shot, failing to find the net. The visiting side were initially unable to capitalise on the home team’s lack of clinicality, with Mainka, Kölle and Schimmer all missing excellent chances to reduce the deficit. The goal back did finally arrive three minutes into eight of stoppage time through substitute Kölle. At 2-1, HSV’s nerves were put to the test once again, but despite a back-and-forth final few moments, during which Robert Glatzel hit the crossbar, Hamburg were ultimately and decisively not for breaking. HSV and their fans were finally able to celebrate a first victory of the season.
Match statistics:
Hamburger SV: Fernandes – Omari, Vuskovic, Elfadli – Gocholeishvili (85’ Mikelbrencis), Vieira (79’ Rössing-Lelesiit), Remberg, Muheim – Philippe (73’ Lokonga), Dompe (73’ Balde) – Königsdörffer (85’ Glatzel)
1. FC Heidenheim: Ramaj – Traore, Mainka, Gimber (68’ Busch), Föhrenbach – Kerber (53’ Beck), Dorsch, Schöppner (68’ Schimmer) – Conteh, Kaufmann (79’ Kaufmann), Ibrahimovic (79’ Kölle)
Goals: 1-0 Vuskovic (42’), 2-0 Philippe (59’), 2-1 Kölle (90’+3)
Attendance: 57,000 (sold-out)
Referee: Dr. Florian Exner
Yellow cards: Elfadli, Philippe, Vieira, Remberg, Heuer Fernandes / Kölle