Match Report
05.12.20
Hannover hold on to inflict third defeat for 10-man HSV
Michael Esser proved to be the matchwinner for Hannover 96 as they left the Volksparkstadion with all three points.
Hendrik Weydandt's 13th-minute opener proved to be the difference on Saturday (5th December), as Hamburger SV's losing run stretched to three games at the Volksparkstadion. After Weydandt's third of the season from a corner, the game turned in the 26th minute when Sonny Kittel received his marching orders for the Rothosen. In the second half, Daniel Thioune's side created a number of chances but found their match in Hannover stopper Michael Esser, who helped his side to their first away win of the season.
Weydandt gives guests early lead
Daniel Thioune made three changes from the defeat in Heidenheim, with Vagnoman, Gjasula and Dudziak coming in for Gyamerah, Heyer and Wintzheimer. After an opening spell of domination from the hosts, the third of three corners from Hannover resulted in the opening goal in the 13th minute. Twumasi's set-piece was flicked on at the near post and bounced off Khaled Narey at the back post straight to Hendrik Weydandt who gratefully gobbled up the chance from all of three yards out for his third goal of the season. The Rothosen's task got all the more difficult in the 26th minute, as Sonny Kittel followed through on Hannover left-back Sei Muroya and saw his second caution in a matter of minutes to receive his marching orders from referee Bastian Dankert.
The guests unsurprisingly saw a lot more of the ball thanks to their man advantage after the sending off, but the Rothosen stepped in at the right moment on a number of occasions to stop the visitors building up a head of steam. The home side had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first shot on target of the game, but with a double chance within the space of 30 seconds could easily have levelled things up. First Simon Terodde was denied from close range after a Khaled Narey cross, and Jeremy Dudziak found Josha Vagnoman at the back post who volleyed straight at Michael Esser in the Hannover goal. The move just before the half was the first time the Rothosen had truly endangered the Hannover goal in the game.
Esser the matchwinner for Hannover
The second half took a while to get into gear, the opening quarter of an hour punctuated by long periods of possession for the defences of both teams. Jeremy Dudziak was at the heart of everything positive for the Rothosen and willed his side forward, almost coming back into the game with two good chances either side of the hour mark; a Vagnoman cross going agonisingly across the face of goal and a header from Dudziak himself straight into the arms of the grateful Esser.
Despite having the man advantage, Hannover saw little of the ball and were content to sit fairly deep in their own half, inviting pressure onto themselves and often losing the ball when in possession. The closing stages saw a trio of chances for the hosts, Simon Terodde denied twice by the brilliant Michael Esser with his feet and substitute Aaron Hunt firing wide with his right after played in on goal by a delightful chip from fellow replacement Manuel Wintzheimer. Daniel Thioune will be proud of how his side played in the second half, fighting hard and creating multiple chances despite the man advantage. A lack of killer instinct and Kittel's 26th-minute sending off will be the main points for frustration for the 46-year-old. HSV will hope to end the losing run away to Darmstadt next Saturday (kick-off 1:00pm CET).
Game overview
Hamburger SV: Ulreich - Vagnoman (75' Wintzheimer), Leistner, Ambrosius (88' Hinterseer), Leibold - Onana (75' Hunt), Gjasula (85' Wood), Dudziak - Narey, Terodde, Kittel
Hannover 96: Esser - Muroya, Basdas, Franke, Hult - Kaiser, Bijol, Schindler (67' Stehle), Haraguchi (86' Elez), Twumasi (84' Sulejmani) - Weydandt (67' Ducksch)
Goals: 0-1 Weydandt (13')
Spectators: unfortunately none
Referee: Bastian Dankert (Rostock)
Yellow cards: Kittel (14') / Kaiser (78')
Red cards: Kittel (25', second yellow) / -