Status: 05/15/2022 5:24 p.m
This means that there will be a reunion next Thursday in Berlin and four days later in Hamburg (kick-off at 8:30 p.m. each time). HSV club legend Felix Magath, who finished the Bundesliga season 16th with the “Old Lady” after a 2-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Third place is Hamburg’s biggest success since relegation four years ago. In the past three seasons, the former Bundesliga “Dino” had finished fourth.
And on Sunday afternoon, too, it initially looked as if the marmot would say hello again on the Elbe. At the break, coach Tim Walter’s team was 1-0 down against Hansa and was fourth at that point.
Walter: “We’re not done yet”
“We had a very, very difficult game. The opponents gave us big problems, especially in the first half. But it was symbolic for our whole season that the lads never stop and keep coming back. You can never write us off. We proved that impressively again today. That’s why I’m really proud of my team and I’m happy for the whole club,” explained Walter in the NDR interview. With regard to the relegation against Hertha, the 46-year-old said: “We’re not done yet. Now we have two bonus games. And we want more.”
Neidhart puts Hansa in the lead
When Walter said these words, a thriller lay behind him that could have ended differently. The HSV fans who had traveled to Rostock had their hearts sinking for the first time after 80 seconds when Hansa’s midfielder Lukas Fröde hit the crossbar of the away goal with a header. If Hamburg was still lucky in this scene, the lightning-fast Danylo Sikan soon punished further carelessness in the defense of the former European Cup winners. The Ukrainian shook off captain Sebastian Schonlau with surprising ease after a pass into the alley and put it across to Nico Neidhart, who only had to push the ball into the empty goal (13′).
HSV harmless in attack
HSV owed such a no-frills attack until half-time. The Walter team set the tone after going behind and had 60 percent possession of the ball in the first 45 minutes. In the front line, however, it lacked penetrating power. Rostock’s keeper Markus Kolke didn’t have to be “the octopus” once before half-time, as the captain is called because of his sometimes spectacular reflexes. His opponent Daniel Heuer Fernandes got more opportunities to prove his qualities. Because the home side were the more dangerous team and had a very good chance to make it 2-0 through John Verhoek in the 33rd minute. The Dutchman just missed the target from a few meters.
At the break, the Bundesliga was a long way off for Hamburg. The equal points competitor Darmstadt 98 already led 3:0 against SC Paderborn. and Werder Bremen, who started the season finale in second place with a three-point lead over HSV, were up 1-0 against Regensburg.
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Glatzel meets, Kittel misses HSV leadership
But as so often this season, the Walter team showed comeback qualities. Goalscorer Robert Glatzel equalized with a header five minutes after the restart after a precise cross from Mario Vuskovic. The attacker’s 22nd goal of the season was followed by a moment of shock when Svante Ingelsson appeared free in front of Heuer Fernandes, but was denied by the goalkeeper’s defensive leg (53′). This HSV, it’s not for the faint of heart. Would you like more proof? Sonny Kittel provided it. In the 63rd minute, the top scorer failed to calm the mood of his teammates and the supporters with the 2:1. His shot rolled wide of the post.
Hansa too careless in the air
Since no more help could be expected from Paderborn – the East Westphalians were still hopelessly behind in Darmstadt – the Hamburg team urgently needed to score another goal to defend third place. Not an easy task against a Rostock team that worked extremely concentrated against the ball. At least on the ground. Because after a short corner kick by HSV, the hosts were not in control of the air for the second time that afternoon. Schonlau was able to nod off the cross from Ludovit Reis without much resistance. Substitute Mikkel Kaufmann made the decision 3-1 shortly before the end of the season and made the fans in the away block sing: “Berlin, Berlin, we’re going to Berlin.”
It wasn’t that far, however. Because Hansa was able to shorten through Fröde (90 + 1). So had to be trembled again. But as already described: This HSV is not for the faint of heart…
Matchday 34, May 15, 2022, 3:30 p.m
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