Match report

Statement victory - HSV win 4-0 in Darmstadt

Hamburger SV battled their way into the game against SV Darmstadt 98 and needed two goals from corner-kicks to put them on course to victory, first from Reis and then Königsdörffer. From there, the Rothosen’s lead never looked in doubt, and they wrapped up a commanding 4-0 away win in the closing stages thanks to Selke and Glatzel.

Saturday afternoon’s trip to SV Darmstadt 98 saw Hamburger SV secure a 4-0 victory on matchday 32 of the 2. Bundesliga season. The hosts made the better start in front of almost 18,000 fans at the Böllenfalltor, but it was HSV who took the lead after 23 minutes through Reis’ header from Müheim’s corner. The visitors doubled their lead from another corner in the second half, this time with Königsdörffer converting from Dompe’s delivery. With a two-goal lead behind them, HSV took complete command of the game, not only keeping the Lilies quiet, but adding further goals in the closing stages: Selke made it 3-0 in the 80th minute with a tap-in, before Glatzel completed the statement win in the race for promotion in stoppage time.

Ludovit Reis powers in a header from a corner to open the scoring for HSV

Muheim set-piece delivery breaks the deadlock

HSV coach Merlin Polzin was able to call on the fit-again Muheim in Darmstadt, returning to his usual place on the left of the back four. He couldn’t really make his mark going forward in the opening stages though, being tested defensively by the home side, who had the much better start.

The Lilies had the Rothosen pegged back inside their own half in the opening exchanges and had the first two openings through Corredor, but the real danger didn’t arrive until the 18th minute. Nürnberger forced Heuer Fernandes into a top save, before Lidberg put the rebound just wide. Despite having taken the first four shots of the game, it was also Darmstadt who were picking the ball out of their net first. A series of corner-kicks gave the returning Muheim a chance to practise his delivery, and he soon nailed it, perfectly finding the head of Reis, who buried the ball from close range to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute. It was a goal that changed the game, as HSV now assumed control. They may not have created any more notable chances in the first half, but Polzin’s side were able to shore things up at the back and dictate the play, not allowing Darmstadt to get back in their early rhythm. At the end of a hard-fought first half – which included enforced changes for both sides after injuries to Bueno and Hadzikadunic – Hamburg went into the break with the fewer chances, but with a lead that certainly wasn’t undeserved.

Davie Selke celebrates his 21st league goal of the season with the travelling HSV fans

Late goals wrap up big win

The start of the second 45 was a replica of how the game had begun; the hosts controlled the opening minutes, making HSV work hard to keep the spaces around their penalty area tight, but once again the goal fell at the other end. Another corner did the damage, this time swung in by Dompe, and Königsdörffer applied an acrobatic finish to double the lead just before the hour mark.

The cushion allowed Hamburg to play with real confidence now, and the advantage was briefly three less than 10 minutes later, only for Dompe’s goal to be chalked off by VAR after Sahiti was given offside in the build-up. That didn’t slow the Rothosen down though, as they set about killing the game off with renewed purpose. Pherai had a chance cleared off the line by Müller in the 75th minute, but in the 80th minute, Selke only had to apply a finish into an empty net after excellent work down the right by Pherai, and the officials had no objections this time. Even though the three points were already beyond, HSV continued to carry a threat until the very end, and it was Glatzel who had the final say in the fifth minute of stoppage time, heading in after yet another assist from Pherai. The 4-0 victory means that matchday 33 at the Volksparkstadion offers Hamburg the chance to secure Bundesliga promotion with a game to spare should they beat SSV Ulm.

Match facts:

SV Darmstadt 98: Schuhen - Lopez, Riedel, Vukotic, Guille Bueno (29’ Papela) - Müller, Nürnberger, Förster (68’ Boetius), Corredor - Lidberg, Hornby

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Hadzikadunic (43’ Schonlau), Elfadli, Muheim (74’ Hefti) - Meffert, Königsdörffer (82’ Glatzel), Reis - Balde (46’ Sahiti), Selke, Dompe (74’ Pherai)

Goals: 0-1 Reis (23’), 0-2 Königsdörffer (58’), 0-3 Selke (80’), 0-4 Glatzel (90’+5)

Attendance: 17,800 (sold out)

Referee: Patrick Alt (Illingen)

Yellow cards: Förster, Vukotic, Müller / Selke, Schonlau, Meffert