HSV see off Mainz 05 with 4-0 home win

Early quick-fire double

Merlin Polzin was forced to replace two regulars in his team following last weekend’s 0-0 draw away to Union Berlin. Warmed Omari (ankle injury) and Fabio Vieira (suspended) made way for Nicolas Capaldo and Sambi Lokonga to come into the side. The latter of the two new starters took little time to make his impact on proceedings, reacting quickest to the rebound after Giorgi Gocholeishvili unleashed a strike from 18 yards out, which Mainz keeper Rieß could only turn onto the post. Sambi Lokonga subsequently had the simple task of side-footing home from around seven yards out (6’). HSV’s first attack brought deserved reward for their bright start to the contest, which they soon followed up on. A second dangerous break forward also ended with the ball finding the visitors’ net as Philippe latched onto a Königsdörffer delivery from the right-hand side before using his body well to allow him to turn inside the box and fire into the far bottom corner from both a tight angle and with his weaker right foot for 2-0 (10’). If only the Rothosen had continued that level-headed efficiency in front of goal, they would have extended their advantage minutes later, and perhaps should have done, when both Philippe’s (16’) Königsdörffer’s (17’) next efforts from central positions inside the area found only the gloves of Rieß.

Mainz’s first moment of note came shortly before the 20-minute mark when Nadiem Amiri made Heuer Fernandes parry away with his free-kick from 25 yards out. The home shot stopper preserved his clean sheet again 10 minutes later when he got his fingertips to a long-range effort from Kaishu Sano to keep it from heading into the top corner (30’). HSV continued to get forward through effective link-up play and rapid breaks downfield. Muheim sent an attempt just wide of the left-hand upright in the 36th minute, meaning the Hamburg lead remained 2-0 as the half-time whistle sounded.