Team
27.04.22
Symbolic Suhonen
The 21-year-old homegrown star is making a name for himself in the professional ranks for the first time this season, including three times in the starting XI. With his courageous and spirited style of play, the Finn was convincing and symbolises the mentality of the team.
A short contact with the inside right to optimally receive and take the ball, then a powerful full-stretch shot half-high into the left corner - goal! Anssi Suhonen's shot from a central position and more than 20 metres away from the goal to make it 2-1 in Regensburg (4-2) was a shot from luck for the little Finn. It was a goal absolutely worth seeing, which the 21-year-old watched a few times afterwards and which was of elementary importance for HSV on this day, as it once again broke down resistance.
The courageous performance of the 21-year-old, who moved from his Finnish homeland to the youth development centre in 2017 and is dribbling for the first tem for the first time this season, was emblematic of a young HSV team that always thinks boldly and offensively. "It's fun to see the energy that the youngster brings to the game," praised head coach Tim Walter after the match. "And even if he makes mistakes sometimes, like everyone else does, it's strong that he never gives up on himself. It's great that he rewarded himself personally and us as a team in this game." It is no coincidence that the midfielder has already collected 16 second-division appearances this season, making five appearances in the starting eleven - most recently three in a row. "Right from the start, Anssi was received as if he had been there for years and was an integral part of the team," explains centre-forward Robert Glatzel, who set up Anssi's second goal for HSV in Regensburg. "And now that he's making his first appearances in the starting eleven, he's really getting stuck in and playing well, the whole team is really happy for him. Every single player is happy for him."
The two-footed Finn, who has advanced to the U21 national team this season and is currently on the radar of the senior national team, is his usual modest self when it comes to his development: "Things are going very well for me at the moment. When you get more playing time, you also get more chances to score. Apart from that, I'm still the same Anssi," explains the 21-year-old, who recently extended his contract with HSV until the summer of 2026. "Of course I am happy about scoring goals. I'm also very proud that I was allowed to extend my contract and that I'm making my way in the Finnish national team. But it's always about moving on and not resting on small successes." This is also the mantra of football teacher Walter, who is known for giving young players a chance, but also always demands intrinsic motivation from them to optimise themselves. In this respect, Anssi Suhonen is on the right track, as is the entire HSV team. His impressive shot from distance in Regensburg was just the beginning.