Declaration of war by Walter
VFB saved: Goalkeeper-Bock makes HSV drama perfect
Hamburger SV has to go into a sixth year in the 2nd division. In the relegation, VfB Stuttgart proves to be one size too big. A goalkeeper goat finally shatters the dreams of the Bundesliga.
Next 2nd league instead of miracles from the Elbe: Hamburger SV missed the long-awaited return to the Bundesliga at the fifth attempt, VfB Stuttgart celebrates staying up in the league.
Four days after the 0:3 swatter in the first leg HSV also lost the heated relegation second leg 1:3 (1:0) – and so the sixth season in a row in the 2nd division awaits the once great traditional club. While the Stuttgart fans were partying in the stands, tears flowed from many of the people in Hamburg.
“It’s a brutal disappointment, it hurts,” said HSV keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes sky, “when you see how big and powerful the club is. We gave it our all this season.”
Walter: “In any case, the foundation is in place”
Sonny Kittel (6th) quickly gave HSV the lead in front of 55,500 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion, and belief in the sensation grew – but Enzo Millot (48th and 64th) destroyed all Hamburg hopes with his brace and gave Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß a steady pulse. In addition, Silas scored (90 + 7).
Before Millot’s second goal, Heuer Fernandes of all people, who had been the best Hamburger in the first leg, made a serious mistake.
“Of course it sucks, it hurts,” said Heuer Fernandes sky. “I’m there to help the team, I couldn’t do that in the situation. But we win as a team and lose as a team. Today we have to let that sink in, but we will keep going.”
HSV coach Tim Walter took the same line SAT 1: “We have built up an incredible amount here and we still know that we still have to do a few things better. In any case, the foundation is in place and progress is being made. We also know what we did well, and we also know that we still have potential that we want to unleash, and we will tackle that.”
At sky Walter added: “We fall, but don’t stay down, we get up again. We never complain, instead we continue on our way and always try to do better.”
VfB: Wohlgemuth breathes a sigh of relief
“It wasn’t a game for the faint of heart,” said VfB sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth sky, “We conceded the goal directly and played a relatively weak first half. But we came out of the break well and steered the game in our direction with the 1-1.” Hoeneß, the fourth coach of the season, “we got at the right time,” said Wohlgemuth, “he played a big part in it that we held the class.”
Hoeneß also took a lot off his shoulders: “There was pressure in both games. I’m just a happy man now that we nailed it. The guys are amazing, big compliments. It feels a bit empty because little by little the pressure is dropping.”
This is the 19th time that the Bundesliga club has prevailed in the relegation – in a total of 25 duels. HSV had already failed in the two finals last year, then at Hertha BSC.
Kittel lets HSV cheer early
It takes a “football miracle. We’ll fight to the end,” Walter said before the game – and kept lashing out at his team and the fans on the sidelines. The Hamburgers also cheered – as desired – quickly after Kittel’s powerful shot, which smacked into the goal from the inside of the post.
A good ten minutes later, however, the joy was at least as great after the supposed 1-1 for VfB was conceded by Serhou Guirassy due to an offside position from the video assistant. It would have been the early end of all HSV dreams.
Millot double pulls Hamburg the tooth
But HSV kept running, trying to build up their momentum. But the Stuttgart team was able to defend the attacks again and again and set pinpricks themselves via Guirassy or Millot. Over time, the guests even took control of the game.
HSV continued to give everything, brought a lot of passion to the pitch – but again and again the necessary precision was missing against ripped-off Swabians. The guests stayed cool even in tricky situations with the 3-0 from the first leg in mind – and then shortly after the break Millot struck ice cold.
After the second Stuttgart goal, there was a wild pack formation, referee Bastian Dankert handed out four yellow cards. After that it got quite quiet in the stadium at times, the HSV players seemed to have pulled the plug. Stuttgart brought the success to the finish line – and can continue to play on the big stage.
With Sports Information Service (SID)