match report

HSV win 2-1 in Darmstadt

HSV pick up a narrow, but deserved win on Matchday 9. Aaron Hunt and Lewis Holtby gave the visitors a 2-0 lead, however Darmstadt managed to pull one back through Serdar Dursun.

HSV won 2-1 in Darmstadt on Friday evening. Aaron Hunt opened the scoring on the 13th minute before Lewis Holtby doubled the lead just before half time. HSV held onto the lead for the rest of the game despite Serdar Dursun pulling one back for the home side which led to a nervy final few minutes. Dursun’s goal made the game close all of a sudden, after HSV were in control for the majority of the match. However, Christian Titz’s team managed to get over the line in the end and end a run of three matches without a win. With this win, HSV now have an away record of three wins and one draw this, with Dursun’s goal being the first Die Rothosen have conceded away from home this season.

Lewis Holtby made a big difference in the first half chipping in with a goal and an assist

An early lead…

HSV coach Christian Titz made one change from the derby game at the weekend by bringing in Ito for Janjicic. This change was an attempt to introduce more attacking threat, but also not to disrupt the defensive stability of the team after two goalless draws in a row. The plan worked right from the beginning as Die Rothosen defended well and pressed high from the front lead by Jann-Fiete Arp, who had the first two real chances of the game. The next chance was to the goal. After nice link-up play with Holtby, Aaron Hunt scored a great goal after less than a quarter of an hour. It was a much deserved lead, however it did not faze The Lilies, who had two good chances of their own shortly after. HSV continued to dominate the game against tenacious opponents, but could not carve out any clear-cut opportunities. As half time approached, Titz made a change by replacing the unlucky Tatsuya Ito with Khaled Narey. The substitute made an immediate impact by setting up Lewis Holtby for goal number two after a great run and the teams went into the break with the score at 2-0.

HSV managed to see out the game in the second half and hold on for the win

…and a hectic ending

In the second half, it was now up to the home side to make a game of it and attack HSV. It was obvious that Darmstadt needed to attack more and create more chances to try and get back into the game. Christian Titz’s team plugged the gaps and defended the lead well whilst using the counter attack to provide an attacking threat. Die Rothosen almost used this to their advantage in the 67th minute to put the game to bed, however Sakai could not quite find the killer pass. Darmstadt did not give up and had two good chances to reduce the arrears through Kempe and Sulu but HSV stayed strong. In the final few minutes, another high ball was played into the area but this time Dursun was there to tap home. The assistant referee then announced that there would be six minutes of additional time, and in these minutes the game could have been turned upside down. Darmstadt threw the kitchen sink at HSV as they tried everything to find the equaliser but could not create any clear opportunities. In the end, Bates & Co. stood firm to give HSV a deserved win.

Match overview:

SV Darmstadt 98: Heuer Fernandes - Rieder (80’ Höhn), Franke, Sulu, Holland - Kamavuaka (59’ Wurtz), Stark - Sirigu (56’ Jones), Kempe, Heller - Dursun

Hamburger SV: Pollersbeck - Sakai, Bates, van Drongelen, Santos - Mangala, Holtby (75’ Moritz) - Hwang, Hunt, Ito (42’ Narey) - Arp (65’ Janjicic)

Goals: 0-1 Hunt (13’), 0-2 Holtby (45’), 1-2 Dursun (89’)

Attendance: 17,400

Referee: Christian Dietz (München)

Yellow cards: Kempe (29’), Kamavuaka (47’) / van Drongelen (40’), Sakai (90’), Pollersbeck (90’)

Yellow-red card: - / -

Red cards: - / -