Match Report

HSV grind out important 3-2 win against Schalke

HSV SEALED A DESERVED 3-2 WIN IN A THRILLING MATCH AGAINST SCHALKE 04 ON SATURDAY EVEING. KOSTIC, HOLTBY AND HUNTY SCORED FOR THE ROTHOSEN, WHILE NALDO AND BURGSTALLER BAGGED FOR THE VISITORS.

Hamburger SV claimed their first three points under head coach Christian Titz on Saturday evening, in front of 53,137 spectators at the Volksparkstadion. After a tense match against the current second place side, the Rothosen edged a 3-2 victory. Fillip Kostic (17’), Lewis Holtby (52’) and Aaron Hunt (86’) scored the three goals for HSV, while Naldo and Guido Burgstaller netted for the Royal Blues.

LOTS OF PRESSURE GOING FORWARD

HSV head coach Christian Titz made just one change to the team that took a point in Stuttgart last week, with Kyriakos Papadopoulos coming in for the suspended Gideon Jung. The Rothosen played with bite from the off, forcing Schalke back early on with lots of running and a high press. The incredible atmosphere in the Volksparkstadion only helped spur the team. But for all their pressure, it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the ninth minute through a Naldo header. Video replays suggested the Brazilian had handled the ball, but the goal stood.

But Titz’s team refused to go down without a fight and were soon rewarded for their persistence. A long throw into the box from Douglas Santos flew past several Schalke defenders before popping up perfectly inside the six-yard box for Kostic to nod home. It was the first goal conceded by Schalke keeper Ralf Fährmann in 479 minutes. But HSV weren’t done there.

With momentum in their favour, HSV had their opponents pegged back in their own half and looked particular dangerous down the left side, where Tatsuya Ito impressed with his silky dribbling skills. Despite their efforts, the hosts were unable to find a deserved second goal and the two sides went in level at the break.

Finally rewarded with three points

Feeling the pressure from HSV’s pressing game, Domenico Tedesco made two changes to his Schalke team at half time, but the Rothosen picked up exactly where they left off. Ito broke down the left wing before crossing in for Lewis Holtby at the near post. His first back-heeled shot was cleared, before he chested the rebound over the line to give his side the lead (52’).

Schalke were visibly shaken to go behind, which gave them a boost as they improved on their first-half performance. Waldschmidt passed up on a golden chance to make it 3-1 one on the hour mark, and his failure to convert proved costly three minutes later when Goretzka’s shot was parried straight to Burgstaller, who finished comfortably.

It was even match at 2-2, though HSV maintained a slight edge. Titz’s men were desperate for the win and through everything forward with the introduction of Fiete Arp and Bakery Jatta. Their courage was rewarded in the 86th minute, when Aaron Hunt struck a powerful effort from 25 yards into the top corner past a helpless Fährmann. HSV weathered a late flurry of Schalke chances to see out the deserved victory and close the gap on Mainz to 5 points.