With their first derby win in two and a half years, Hamburger SV have come within three points of city rivals FC St. Pauli. The hosts won 2-1 (0-1) against the league leaders on Friday evening in front of 2000 allowed spectators in the Volksparkstadion and climbed to the promotion relegation place of the 2nd Bundesliga.
St. Pauli, who have not won in four league games, remain at the top at least until Saturday. Darmstadt 98 can pass the Hamburgers. Sebastian Schonlau (58th minute) and Bakery Jatta (70th) scored the goals for HSV. Guido Burgstaller (30′) scored on the other side and scored his 15th goal of the season from close range.
HSV had not won the previous five city duels – four defeats, one draw. With the win, coach Tim Walter’s team is now promising in the promotion race. His team got off to a stormy start, creating four chances in the first 20 minutes. The brisk gait of his team impressed FC St. Pauli, who initially retreated to the defensive and hardly accomplished anything constructive in attack. Daniel Heuer Fernandes easily mastered the guests’ first shot on goal (16′).
The clear superiority of HSV brought nothing at first. So it was not the hosts, but the St. Paulians who scored the opening goal. After a corner by Eric Smith, Burgstaller was served the ball. The Austrian striker had no trouble. Even after the change of sides, HSV continued to set the tone and scored a well-deserved equalizer with a header from Schonlau after a corner.
The nimble Jatta finally turned the game in favor of HSV with his goal after a pass from Sonny Kittel. The game remained exciting, but wasn’t top-class. Numerous fouls on both sides chopped up the flow of the game.