2:0 - HSV wins season opener in Braunschweig

Flattering 0:0 at the break...

HSV coach Walter was able to field his top eleven in the first league match, confirming their performance from the last endurance test against FC Basel, which the Red Shorts had won impressively 5:1, in Braunschweig. But the game developed quite differently. Eintracht, who were defending with a massive five-man backline, scored the majority of the goals in the early stages.

Walter had warned against the hosts' quick changes and brutal tempo, but this was exactly the pattern the Braunschweig team used to create a number of goal-scoring opportunities. In the first quarter of an hour alone, in which the Rothosen had more than 80 per cent of the ball, the Lions had three dangerous attempts. And after HSV had taken the offensive for a short while and had their first good action through Kittel, the game of fast Braunschweig counter-attacks continued. HSV keeper Heuer Fernandes had to make three great saves against Marx, Kaufmann and Pherai to keep the score level at half-time, which was the most positive result of the first period from Hamburg's point of view. Schonlau & Co. were unable to prevent the quick counter-attacks from the hosts at any point and were in danger of falling behind several times, which would have been justified after 45 minutes and far too little offensive power of their own against Braunschweig, who were strong on the counter-attack.