HSV fall to 2-1 defeat against Sturm Graz

After their five-day training camp at the adidas Homeground in Herzogenaurach, HSV were defeated by Sturm Graz in a friendly. On Saturday (19th July), the Rothosen lost 2-1 to the Austrian champions. In the first half, Jon Stankovic (18’) and Tochi Chukwuani (45+2’) scored for the hosts in front of 9,272 fans at the Merkur Arena in Graz. Robert Glatzel bagged a consolation goal for the visitors in the 90th minute to make it 2-1.

Just like in the previous friendlies, HSV started the game set up in a 4-3-3 system which converted into a five-man backline when the team was off the ball, with the wide players in midfield dropping back. The side was also unchanged from the game against Danish title winners FC Copenhagen last Saturday (12th July). Head coach Merlin Polzin sent the same starting XI out which seemed to be an indication for who was being favoured to start following the week-long training camp in Herzogenaurach. The hosts from Graz were not only beginning their season at home with the friendly, but also gearing up for the final time ahead of the official start of the season next Friday when they face off against Bischofshofen in the cup, and they got off to the better start on the afternoon. Daniel Heuer Fernandes was already at the centre of the action in the opening stages. HSV’s shot-stopper initially pulled off an incredible reflex save to deny Boeving who had been unmarked one-on-one with him (9’), before he had to venture outside of his box for a last-ditch intervention two minutes later.

It took until the 16th minute of play for HSV to truly threaten the home side through Dompe. The Frenchman got a shot off with his right after some wonderful dribbling, but Graz keeper Bignetti was equal to his effort. Any further attempts to get forward at pace, which appear increasingly to be part of HSV’s tactics, prematurely came undone. Königsdörffer’s shot following a lovely pass from Philippe was a whisker away from giving the Rothosen the lead (30’). Graz determined the flow of the game in the first half for the most part with their aggressive pressing and took a deserved lead in the 18th minute through Stankovic. The captain nodded home from close range after a corner to make it 1-0 (18’). Three minutes later, Johnston had the chance to double their lead, but the Scottish full-back came out second best in a one-on-one against Heuer Fernandes. Graz would get a second goal in added time of the first half. Chukwuani lined up a shot from around 18 yards out and hammered the ball into the back of the net (45+2’).