Match report

HSV celebrate first away win of the season in Heidenheim

On matchday 21, Hamburger SV secured their first away victory of the season against 1. FC Heidenheim. Goals from Ransford Königsdörffer and Rayan Philippe propelled HSV to a 2-0 win.

Hamburger SV emerged victorious against 1. FC Heidenheim on matchday 21, marking their first win on the road of the season in the process. The Rothosen ran out as 2-0 winners against the side at the foot of the table. Ransford Königsdörffer opened the scoring for HSV shortly before the break at the sold-out Voith-Arena (45+3’), with substitute Rayan Philippe doubling their advantage (78’). As a result of their first away win this campaign, HSV have climbed to 11th in the table.

Königsdörffer with the opener…

Head coach Merlin Polzin made two changes to the side that held record champions FC Bayern to a 2-2 draw last weekend. Warmed Omari and Philip Otele replaced William Mikelbrencis and the suspended Nicolas Capaldo in the XI. The game against Heidenheim marked Otele’s first time in the starting line-up after joining Hamburg on loan from FC Basel last week.

The start of the match at the Voith-Arena was marked by intense challenges and energy from the home side. In the 5th minute, Arijon Ibrahimovic threatened for the first time. He burst down the left-hand side and crossed the ball into Niklas Dorsch, who hit it on the volley and forced keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes into making the first save of the game. However, neither the intensity at the outset of the encounter, nor the high pressing lasted very long for the hosts. As time went on, HSV began to grow into the game, dominate possession, and take control of the encounter. After a misplaced pass from Miro Muheim in the 21st minute, though, things looked dicey for the visitors. Marvin Pieringer took advantage of the mistake and tried his luck shooting at an empty goal, which Heuer Fernandes had vacated, from around 30 yards out. Fortunately for the Rothosen, his effort was off target.

The game developed into a tightly contested affair in which HSV played patiently and edged ever closer to the opposition’s box. Their first real chance of the match fell to Sambi Lokonga in the 25th minute. After combining nicely with Fabio Vieira on the edge of the box, the midfielder let fly. Heidenheim keeper Diant Ramaj was equal to his powerful effort, though, tipping the ball over the bar. From there, HSV turned up the pressure and had more opportunities to score, but the ball wouldn’t go over the line. At the end of the three minutes of added time, HSV reaped their reward. Otele teed up Ransford Königsdörffer whose shot found the far corner, capping off a promising move and making it 1-0 to HSV.

…before Philippe extends the lead

Both teams made two substitutions as they reemerged from the dressing rooms at the start of the second half. In the 56th minute, HSV ramped up the pressure again, but to no avail. In Heidenheim’s penalty area, efforts from Muheim and Vieira were blocked, preventing the midfielders from adding to the away side’s lead. From there, Heidenheim broke quickly on the break, with Sirlord Conteh taking on substitute Jordan Torunarigha in a direct sprint to the other end of the pitch. Once they crossed the halfway line, the HSV defender managed to come out on top. Opposition head coach Frank Schmidt threw caution to the wind by making another couple of attacking changes. As a result, Heidenheim started to apply more pressure and ask more questions of Heuer Fernandes. In the 67th minute, HSV’s number one plucked Patrick Mainka’s goal-bound header out of the air, before saving Benedikt Gimber’s headed effort to preserve his side’s lead eight minutes later (75’). HSV reacted to the Heidenheim pressure with aplomb. After the hosts lost possession in their own half, Nicolai Remberg drove forward with pace and passed the ball to Vieira. The attacking midfielder got past his marker and squared it to Rayan Philippe, who tapped the ball home from centimetres out to double HSV’s advantage.

Shortly afterwards, the home fans were cheering in the stands, as it looked like FCH had gotten one back. However, after a VAR check, referee Daniel Siebert disallowed the goal, since Budu Zivzuvadze standing in an offside position in the build-up. Following a seven-minute period of added time, the game ended 2-0 in the Rothosen’s favour. It was HSV’s first time winning away at Heidenheim in the Bundesliga, and the result meant that they climbed to 11th in the standings.

Match facts:

1. FC Heidenheim: Ramaj - Busch, P. Mainka, Gimber – Traoré (46' Conteh), Niehues (63' Zivzivadze), Behrens, Dorsch, Dinkci, Ibrahimovic (63' Honsak) – Pieringer (46' Schimmer)

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Omari, L. Vuskovic, Elfadli (46' Torunarigha) – Lokonga (46' Downs), Remberg, Jatta, Muheim, Fabio Vieira (80' Gocholeishvili), Otele (68' Philippe) – Königsdörffer (68' Mikelbrencis)

Goals: 1-0 Königsdörffer (45+3'), 2-0 Philippe (78')

Attendance: 15,000 (sold-out)

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Yellow cards: - / Elfadli, Mikelbrencis