Third HSV win on the trot over 10-man Karslruhe

Hofmann cancels out Jatta opener

Daniel Thioune made four changes to the eleven which had beaten SV Sandhausen on Tuesday night, with changes in personnel and formation, again returning to a back four. Bakery Jatta's reinstatement to the starting line-up paid dividends immediately, scoring his first goal of the season in the third minute. The Gambian collected the ball in the centre circle, showing close control to drive all the way to the edge of the penalty area, and, invited by the Karlsruhe defence to shoot, did just that and placed it expertly past the diving Marius Gersbeck with his left foot. Jatta was at the heart of everything positive for the Rothosen in the opening five minutes, laying on a chance for Jeremy Dudziak on the penalty spot who blasted over when well placed. The guests were punished for their profligacy in the 14th minute, Karlsruhe equalising with their first threatening attack on Sven Ulreich's goal. Josha Vagnoman slipped and the hosts countered, a 2-on-2 situation seeing Malik Batmaz draw Toni Leistner as last man and play across to Philipp Hofmann, who cooly slipped under the 32-year-old stopper with his first touch.

The intensity of the game remained high as chances continued to fall on both sides, the guests enjoying the better of the opportunities. The visitors from Hamburg looked most dangerous from wide positions; Simon Terodde flicking a Khaled Narey free-kick onto the post in the 20th minute, before the winger should have done better himself when found all alone at the far post by Bakery Jatta, heading straight at the grateful Gersbeck. Karlsruhe slowly squeezed the game and ended the half on top, Benjamin Goller coming closest two minutes from the half, seeing his strike from the edge of the area whistle past the left-hand post.