Match report

HSV draw 2-2 with Schalke

Goals from Richter and Königsdörffer gave Hamburger SV a 2-0 lead, but the hosts were pegged back in the second half as it ended level.

Hamburger SV were unable to claim victory in their Saturday-night home match against FC Schalke 04. The Rothosen built a two-goal lead in front of 57,000 at the sold-out Volksparkstadion thanks to Richter and Königsdörffer’s quick-fire strikes (29’, 30’). Selke then had a chance to add a third right after the break, but then S04 suddenly grew into the game. Younes and Karaman (57’, 74’) scored for the visitors as HSV were forced to be content with just a point in their Matchday 13 fixture.

Marco Richter slammed his direct free-kick into the top-right corner to give HSV the lead.

HSV strike twice...

Head coach Steffen Baumgart opted to start Selke and Königsdörffer as a striking duo, with Richter weaving his magic in behind. The latter was in the thick of the action in what was a physical start to the game, as HSV’s courageous and passionate start had them looking dangerous in front of goal. First, Mikelbrencis crossed it into the attacking midfielder, and then Richter set up a chance for Selke – he was very much in the game. Therefore, it was only right that in the 29th minute, after Muheim was brought down just outside the box, Hamburg’s number 20 placed the ball down and blasted it into the top-right corner to give the hosts the lead. It was a deserved lead for the Rothosen, who then went and added a second almost immediately, thanks to their willingness to not let up after going in front. The HSV press, led by Selke, put Schallenberg under stress, which caused him to play a sloppy pass across the box. Königsdörffer was alert and cut out the pass, before neatly knocking it round keeper Heekeren and tapping into an empty net for 2-0 (30’). This meant that HSV had managed to earn a two-goal advantage in a game that had lacked chances in the first half-hour, and Selke even had an opportunity to add a third in the 35th minute. With captain Schonlau & Co. keeping things tight at the back, and Sylla only getting a chance of note just before the interval, HSV took their two-goal lead into half-time.

Schalke were afforded too many chances in the second half, and Amin Younes began the S04 comeback with this effort.

...but Schalke fight back

The Rothosen seemed to have taken their first-half momentum out with them for the second period, as they got forward in the first minutes. Once again, Selke had a great chance to score a third, but Heekeren came out on top in the one-on-one situation, a moment which seemed to wake his side up (47’). Suddenly, Schalke grew into it, and HSV became the nervier side.

The visitors then got a goal back in the 57th minute – Younes capitalised on a compilation of errors by the HSV defence, slotting it past Heuer Fernandes from close range and making it a much tenser affair. Just five minutes later. Sylla was wheeling away in celebration thinking he’d made it 2-2, but the goal was chalked off due to him being offside. However, the game had truly started to turn in the visitors’ favour. Richter’s first-time effort was a great chance to restore the two-goal cushion, but ultimately, HSV failed to regain control of the game and had to witness their opponents getting more and more confident, eventually finding an equaliser through Karaman in the 74th minute. At 2-2, the game now sat on a knife edge. Schalke kept pushing forward in search of more, but HSV also found a second win for the final stages of the game, and Hefti had two good opportunities to put the Rothosen back in front. However, both these scenarios and Karabec’s late chance failed to result in a winner, as HSV ended up drawing a game which they had controlled for long periods.

Match facts:

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Elfadli, Schonlau, Muheim - Mikelbrencis (59' Hefti), Poreba, Meffert (59' Perrin), Katterbach (79' Dompe), Richter (71' Karabec) - Selke, Königsdörffer (71' Stange)

FC Schalke 04: Heekeren - Bulut, Schallenberg, Kaminski, Murkin - Grüger (90'+2. Kalas), Seguin (84' Donkor), Sylla (79' Aydin), Bachmann, Younes - Karaman

Goals: 1-0 Richter (29'), 2-0 Königsdörffer (30'), 2-1 Younes (57'), 2-2 Karaman (74')

Attendance: 57,000 (sold-out)

Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger (St. Wolfgang)

Yellow cards: Katterbach, Poreba / Seguin, Grüger