Match Report

1-1 draw in Regensburg

Andreas Albers scores just before half time to give the hosts the lead. Kittel equalises with seven minutes to go.

HSV have to settle for a point on Matchday 31 against SSV Jahn Regensburg after struggling to cope with the opposition’s game in the first half, much like during Thursday night’s defeat in Sandhausen. The Rothosen offered nothing going forward and relied on Sven Ulreich to keep the scores level. In the 44th minute, Moritz Heyer put the ball in the back of the net from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside. A questionable decision, followed instantly by Andreas Albers‘ goal at the other end to put the hosts in front at half time. HSV came out stronger in the second half and created numerous chances. Only in the 83rd minute was Sonny Kittel able to force the ball just over the line to equalise. Chances for Leistner and Kittel in the remaining minutes were passed up, leaving both teams with just a point.

Fifty-fifties was the name of the game in the first half with both teams battling hard.

Unlucky offside call...

HSV head coach made three changes to the side that started against Sandhausen. Dudziak and Wintzheimer were brought in to provide the attack with more impetus, while Leistner came in to provide stability at the back. Leistner and his defensive colleagues were kept busy in the opening stages as well: Jahn Regensburg pressed high up the pitch and were able to create several dangerous situations in and around the Hamburg penalty area. HSV held off the advances and accepted the game for what it was, a battle. Despite their fighting spirit, the Rothosen were unable to conjure up any dangerous attacks of their own, for the first half hour at least. Thioune’s men started to enjoy a little more possession in the opposing half and looked for all the world to have taken the lead in the 43rd minute, but Heyer was supposedly a few inches offside. A tight decision that left HSV players understandably frustrated. But their frustration would soon grow. Not two minutes after the disallowed goal, Albers finished low past the keeper from a corner to give Regensburg the lead with practically the last kick of the half.

Sonny Kittel celebrates his 83rd minute equaliser.

... and a late equaliser

Thioune made two changes at half time, bringing on Gjasula and Narey to offer more physicality. Now chasing the game, HSV began to take control of the game, dominating possession and finding ways through the opposition defence, albeit without posing a real goal threat. HSV grew more and more dangerous as time went on, with Gjasula and Meißner both coming close to scoring. Still without a clear-cut chance, Thioune’s men continued to press and were eventually rewarded for their efforts as Kittel reacted first to a rebounded Hunt shot to force the ball over the line. The 83rd minute equaliser gave rise to a wild end to the game, with Leistner, who had been solid all day at the back, and goalscorer Kittel passing up the big chances to find a winner. In the end, despite a marked improvement in the second half, HSV came away with no more than a point.

Match Overview:

SSV Jahn Regensburg: A. Meyer - Saller, Elvedi, Kennedy, Wekesser - Gimber, Besuschkow, Schneider (70‘ Opoku), Makridis (70‘ Otto) - Caliskaner (77‘ Heister), Albers (90‘ Becker)

Hamburger SV: Ulreich - Vagnoman (68‘ Gyamerah), Leistner, Ambrosius (87‘ van Drongelen), Leibold - Heyer (46‘ Gjasula), Dudziak (46‘ Narey), Hunt - Wintzheimer (73‘ Meißner), Terodde, Kittel

Goals: 1-0 Albers (45‘), 1-1 Kittel (83‘)

Attendance: sadly no spectators

Referee: Florian Heft (Neuenkirchen)

Yellow cards: Gimber (36’), Wekesser (63’) / Heyer (16’), Leibold (23’)

Red cards: - / -