Match Report

HSV with a massive three points in Wolfsburg

After an entertaining 90 minutes of football, HSV celebrate a hugely important 3-1 victory against VfL Wolfsburg. Bobby Wood, Lewis Holtby and Luca Waldschmidt got the goals for the Rothosen in a win which saw the gap to safety cut to two points.

Hamburger SV recorded their third win under coach Christian Titz in front of 29,400 fans in Wolfsburg. This victory cuts the gap to competitors Wolfsburg, who sit directly above HSV to just two points. In the first half the goals came from a Bobby Wood penalty (43’) and a Lewis Holtby header (45’) after a cross from Tatsuya Ito. After the break Wolfsburg got one back through Josip Brekalo (78’) and at the death Luca Waldschmidt wrapped up the three points in second half injury time, when he scored the rebound from HSV’s second penalty of the game. Hamburg were again supported brilliantly away from home with over 3,000 fans making the trip to Wolfsburg.

The game in short:

Hamburger SV: Pollersbeck - Sakai, Papadopoulos, Jung, Santos - Steinmann - Kostic, Holtby, Hunt (67’ Ekdal), Ito (85’ Jatta) - Wood (77’ Waldschmidt)

VfL Wolfsburg: Casteels - Verhaegh (46’ Brekalo), Knoche, Udoukhai, William - Guilavogui, Tisserand (11’ Bazoer) - Blaszczykowski (75’ Malli), Arnold, Steffen - Origi

Goals: 0-1 Wood (43’), 0-2 Holtby (45’), 1-2 Brekalo (78’), 1-3 Waldschmidt (90’)

Spectators: 29.400

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)

Yellow cards: Verhaegh (45’), Knoche (51’), Pollersbeck (67’), Brekalo (84’), Papadopoulos (88’)

Red cards: none

HSV’s Tatsuya Ito was unstoppable in the first half and played a key part in Hamburg’s goals.

HSV strike twice

Head coach Christian Titz made two changes to the side that won 1-0 against SC Freiburg. Douglas Santos returned from suspension for Diekmeier and Wood entered the attack for Waldschmidt. As we saw on the final day of last season, Waldschmidt can make a decisive impact off the bench against Wolfsburg.

The first clear-cut chance of the match fell to Wood in the 8th minute after half-chances from Holtby and Ito. The visitors were on top in the opening stages despite Steffen have a chance for the hosts after a quarter of an hour. Hamburg dominated proceedings and continued to threaten Wolfsburg’s goal. Eventually, they got their deserved goal. Ito was fouled in the box and Wood converted the penalty. In added time in the first half, Holtby got on the end of Ito’s cross to make it 2-0 to HSV heading into the break.

Lewis Holtby scored his fourth goal in five games.

… the late decider

After the change of sides, the game became less eventful as Hamburg focused on keeping possession and controlling the game. The Wolves pushed for a goal but HSV were unable to counter as effectively as they had done in the first half.

In the 72nd and 76th minute, Kostic and Douglas Santos had chances to seal the deal but failed to convert and, from nowhere, Wolfsburg clawed themselves back into the game. 12 minutes before the end, Brekalo scored a free-kick to give the hosts hope. Wolfsburg now played with new found confidence at a clearly nervy Hamburg team. It made for an exceptionally tense end to the game. However, on the break, Waldschmidt was fouled in the penalty area in the 93rd minute after coming on and, though Kostic’s effort was parried, Waldschmidt scored the rebound to make it 3-1 at the death. The gap to safety is now two points – the mission goes on!