Match report
26.11.17
HSV record second home win in a row, beating TSG 3-0
The Rothosen put on a dominant performance to beat TSG at the Volksparkstadion. An Akpoguma own goal and then second-half strikes from Kostic and Jung guaranteed the three points for the home side.
HSV stunned TSG on matchday 13 in front of a 45,570-strong crowd at the Volksparkstadion. Goals from Kostic and Jung added to a first-half own goal from Akpoguma, who bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Arp, as the Rothosen stormed to a fourth win of the season in front of a thundering home crowd.
Wood and Arp cause Hoffenheim problems
HSV were looking to build on that 500th home win against VfB Stuttgart before the international break. The home side started well, creating opportunities particularly down the left wing through Kostic. The new Bobby Wood-Fiete Arp axis also looked dangerous. It was the first time HSV’s number 7 and number 40 were both in the starting line-up and their dynamism caused Hoffenheim a lot of problems throughout the game. The opening goal came after only seven minutes, as tricky dribbling by Douglas Santos saw the full back earn a bit of space. Santos curled the ball into the box and it was turned in by TSG’s defender Akpoguma under pressure from Arp. The first half continued in the same fashion, with HSV attacking and TSG looking to break on the counter, but clear-cut chances were few and far between. The ever dangerous Filip Kostic had Hamburg’s best chance, but his left-footed drive was well saved by Baumann, diving down to his left.
Chances and goals galore in the second half
The second half started in the same vein as the first. That Arp-Wood partnership again looked to cause TSG problems, and Wood went agonisingly close to doubling HSV’s lead with a beautifully struck volley front outside the post. Baumann could only look on as the ball swung by him, but it came off against the post and was cleared. Minutes later, our American forward had another opportunity. This time, Diekmeier found himself with an inch of space on the edge of the box, but his cut-back bobbled awkwardly for our number 7 and he could only direct his shot into the grateful arms of Baumann. Hamburg kept on attacking. Next it was Arp’s turn to test the visiting keeper. Arp had pace and momentum with him as he drove towards the opposition box, cutting inside the defence before smashing a shot at the top corner, which Baumann was at full-stretch to reach. Suddenly it was Hoffenheim on the attack and Mathenia had to be alert to tip away Amiri’s shot across goal. HSV reacted by making their first substitution of the game. Barely had van Drongelen walked onto the pitch when HSV were 2-0 up. Kostic took advantage of a lapse in concentration to thump a free-kick low and hard into the bottom right corner. The crowd had barely finished celebrating when it became three. The impressive Diekmeier got the assist, heading the ball back into the path of the oncoming Gideon Jung, who volleyed the ball in for his first of the season. In the end, it was three goals, a clean sheet and three crucial points for the Rothosen to cap off a thoroughly satisfactory performance.
MATCH FACTS:
Hamburger SV: Mathenia - Diekmeier, Papadopoulos, Mavraj, Douglas - Jung, Sakai - Wood (82’ Schipplock), Hunt (75’ van Drongelen), Kostic - Arp (91’ Waldschmidt)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim: Baumann - Posch, Vogt, Akpoguma - Zuber (63’ Kramaric), Schulz - Grillitsch - Demirbay (63’ Szalai), Gnabry (57’ Amiri) - Uth, Wagner
Goals: 1-0 Akpoguma (6’, own goal), 2-0 Kostic (75’), 3-0 Jung (88’)
Attendance: 46,470
Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)
Yellow Cards: - / Vogt (28’), Uth (61’), Grillitsch (74’)