Match report
25.01.25
HSV pick up dramatic 3-2 win over Hertha BSC
Goals from Selke and Königsdörffer gave the Rothosen a 2-0 lead under the floodlights, before Cuisance and Winkler levelled it up for Hertha. Sahiti though had the last word as he scored the winner in a thrilling end to the game.
On Saturday, 25th January, Hamburger SV won 3-2 away at Hertha BSC on Matchday 19 of the 2. Bundesliga. In front of 71,500 spectators, including around 20,000 HSV fans, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, the Rothosen firstly had to withstand a difficult first 20 minutes when the hosts had a number of chances. Selke however scored with HSV’s first effort on goal at around the halfway point of the first period. Though the match was slightly cagey in the first half, it developed into a thrilling encounter in the second. Königsdörffer made it 2-0 before Hertha brought it back to 2-2 within the space of eight minutes. They were then caught cold a third time when Sahiti finished off a perfect counterattack to add the final twist to a memorable game of football.
A cagey start …
HSV head coach Polzin made two changes to his side after the 1-0 home win over 1. FC Köln. Sahiti and Richter were like-for-like replacements for the injured pair of Pherai (lower leg) and Jatta (syndesmotic ligament tear). Sahiti was involved in the game’s first moment of note when he was shown the yellow card for a foul in the third minute. Palko Dardai headed the resulting free kick wide from a good position (4’). A few minutes later, the same Hertha player had another opportunity, but fired wide from around five yards out (7’). Elfadli then had to block another good chance in the penalty area, this time for Cuisance. The Rothosen initially struggled to mount their own attacks, and had to work hard defensively as the hosts piled on the pressure.
Despite all this, it was HSV who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. It just had to be former Hertha man Selke who put HSV’s first shot on goal into the back of the net. He met a delicate cross from Karabec with a textbook header at the far post to make it 1-0. This first goal out of nothing turned the tide in Hamburg’s favour, and they then had more of the ball and began to control the game. There weren’t many more notable opportunities in the first half at either end though, and HSV went in 1-0 up at the break.
… and a thrilling end
Neither team made any alterations at half time, but HSV were forced into a change soon after. Leistner and Selke clashed heads during an aerial duel, and the Rothosen goalscorer was unable to continue after taking a hit to the temple. Königsdörffer replaced him as the lone striker in the 54th minute, and soon emulated the man he had come on for. Just a few minutes after his arrival, Königsdörffer struck with his first shot on goal against a team he had represented at youth level – and what a goal it was! The Berlin-born attacker sensationally curled one into the top corner from the edge of the box. It was clinical again from HSV.
The match then truly opened up. The Old Lady were full of a courage born out of desperation, while the Rothosen had a lot of space on the counter, leading to plenty of chances at both ends. Niederlechner couldn’t poke the ball past Heuer Fernandes after scrambling for the ball with Mikelbrencis when possibly in an offside position (64’). Karabec was then unable to give HSV some more breathing space when one-on-one with Hertha goalkeeper Gersbeck (67’). The home side went all-in with a triple substitution and kept knocking on the door. Cuisance cut the deficit to 2-2 from an assist by Sherhant after good work from substitute Reese (72’). Soon after, Heuer Fernandes made a wonderful save to prevent fellow sub Winkler from scoring the equaliser (76’). Four minutes after that though, and after Richter had called Gersbeck into action with a clever effort towards the near post (78’), the HSV ‘keeper was left with no chance. Winkler turned home a Reese cross to make it 2-2. The momentum now seemed for all the world to have turned in Hertha’s favour, but it was Hamburg who landed the decisive blow. In the 84th minute, Sahiti finished off a superb counterattack after an opposing corner to make it 3-2 with his first-ever goal in HSV colours. The Rothosen were now back in front and defended with their lives through six minutes of injury time. Heuer Fernandes made another excellent save to deny Sessa (90+2’). This was Hertha’s last big opportunity, and HSV held on for the win to go top of the table.
Match facts
Hertha BSC: Gersbeck - Zeefuik, Leistner, Klemens, M. Dardai – Karbownik (66’ Reese), Cuisance, Maza (85’ Sessa) - P. Dardai (66’ Winkler), Niederlechner (66’ Prevljak), Scherhant
Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Hadzikadunic, Elfadli, Muheim – Meffert (86’ Hefti), Karabec (76’ Poreba), Richter (86’ Reis) - Sahiti (86’ Schonlau), Selke (55’ Königsdörffer), Dompe
Goals: 0-1 Selke (23’), 0-2 Königsdörffer (61’), 1-2 Cuisance (72’), 2-2 Winkler (80’), 2-3 Sahiti (84’)
Attendance: 71,500
Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)
Yellow cards: Niederlechner / Sahiti, Hadzikadunic, Poreba