HSV defeat TuS Erndtebrück 5-3

Hit with a shock despite two early goals…

Head coach Christian Titz made four changes from the comfortable 3-0 away win against Sandhausen, with Tom Mickel taking over from Julian Pollersbeck in net, and Stephan Ambrosius replacing David Bates in the centre of defence. Winger Tatsuya Ito also returned to the side replacing Jairo Samperio, while Fiete Arp made a straight swap for Pierre-Michel Lasogga as the lone striker. 

HSV started the game strongly and could have taken the lead after just four minutes, when Stephan Ambrosius swivelled and shot in the penalty area after a short corner. However, his effort went just wide of the near post. Only two minutes later, HSV were awarded a penalty. Orel Mangala was taken down in the area by Erndtebrück midfielder Taira Tomita and referee Robert Kempter pointed straight to the spot. Stand-in captain Lewis Holtby took the ball and buried the spot-kick into the bottom-right corner. HSV doubled their lead just 120 seconds later, a move started by an alert Arp’s good pressing. The ball fell to new signing Khaled Narey, who laid it back to the 18-year-old to provide the finishing touch. HSV had made the perfect start with less than ten minutes on the clock.

Christian Titz’s men were not satisfied with just the two goals and the hosts were lucky not to be three goals down after another good effort from Lewis Holtby in the 16th minute. Erndtebrück then grew into the game and managed to relieve the mounting pressure, but attacking opportunities were few and far between. The next chance fell the way of the visitors as Tatsuya Ito fired in a cross from the right wing, after being found by a brilliant pass from Holtby. The Japanese midfielder’s delivery found the unmarked Narey in the middle and, despite being on a hot-streak of form, he managed to skew the ball wide. Just before half time, Erndtebrück pressed for a goal and were rewarded for their efforts. A long ball found its way through to Tatsuya Yamazaki after striker Lukas Rösch miscontrolled a long pass, and he made no mistake, slotting past HSV goalkeeper Tom Mickel. Despite dominating the game, the visitors only went into the break with a 2-1 lead.