Match report

HSV rescue late 2-2 draw in Kaiserslautern thriller

The Rothosen came back from 2-0 down to earn a point against 1. FC Kaiserslautern. Selke netted a dramatic late equaliser in the dying seconds of the match.

On the evening of Saturday, 21st September, Hamburger SV drew 2-2 away at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. In front of 49,327 spectators at a sold-out Fritz-Walter-Stadion, the two teams played out a highly competitive first half. The Rothosen started the better, but fell behind to a goal from Ache (33’). Soon after half time, the hosts made it 2-0 through Tachie (50’), but the Rothosen then turned up the heat. Glatzel halved the deficit (58’) and then, after a whole host of chances in a breathless end to the game, Selke struck to earn his side a draw in the final minute of injury time.

Striker Ragnar Ache stunned HSV with his fourth goal of the season in the 33rd minute.

Behind against the run of play …

Just before kick-off, HSV head coach Steffen Baumgart was forced into a late change to his starting eleven, which was initially set to be unchanged from the 5-0 win over Regensburg. Goalkeeper Heuer Fernandes had to drop out in the warm-up due to adductor problems, and was replaced by Raab. He therefore made a return to his old stomping ground, which was as raucous as ever. It was the outfield players who saw most of the game in the opening fifteen minutes though, as both sides pressed with purpose and the match was mainly played out in the centre of the park. HSV who were more fluent, and had the first effort on goal through Richter’s strike from distance. A few minutes later, Glatzel had the first big chance of the game, but the forward was unable to find the net after going through one-on-one with Krahl (18’). Glatzel’s opportunity had come from the hosts losing possession, and Kaiserslautern were somewhat sloppy on the ball and restricted to counterattacks and set pieces.

It was one of these set pieces – a free kick taken short from the left – which saw FCK take the lead out of nothing. Wekesser’s deflected cross landed at the feet of Ache, who had used his physicality well to position himself on the edge of the six-yard box. The striker volleyed home to put his team ahead (33’). Kaiserslautern were buoyed by this goal, and HSV were initially shellshocked, with Elfadli’s blocked effort their only other chance before half time (45+3’). The Rothosen therefore went into the break behind against the run of play.

HSV hotshot Robert Glatzel started the comeback with a vital goal.

… and an incredible comeback

Neither side made any changes at half time, and the second period started in much the same fashion as the first had ended. FCK were dogged and efficient, and pounced on the Rothosen giving the ball away to make it 2-0 after a quick counterattack. Tachie hammered home first time from Opoku’s low ball-in (50’). This time though, Baumgart’s side hit back. Muheim fizzed a corner into the six-yard box, and Glatzel kept his eye on the ball to head in at the far post (58’). Following this vital goal, Baumgart made a triple change on the hour, sending on fresh attacking talent in the shape of Dompe, Selke and Karabec. The match was now being played at a million miles an hour.

It was all happening at the famous Betzenberg. Kaiserslautern had a huge chance to restore their two-goal lead through Ache (64’), before HSV almost found an equaliser at the other end, when Karabec was denied by the outstretched leg of Krahl after an excellent through ball from Dompe (72’). Ache then failed to convert from a promising position (75’), and Glatzel’s backheel and Karabec’s low shot both threatened the hosts’ goal inside a minute (82’). FCK seemed to have run out of steam in the final stages, and HSV piled on the pressure in search of a long-overdue equaliser. As if scripted, this finally came in the fifth and final minute of injury time. After Krahl, who seemed unbeatable, had denied Dompe (90+1’), Selke headed in Karabec’s cross to finally make it 2-2. This earned a richly deserved point for a Rothosen side who never threw in the towel.

Match facts:

1. FC Kaiserslautern: Krahl - Gyamerah (77’ Toure), Elvedi, Heuer, Wekesser - Tomiak - Tachie (90+2’ Zimmer), Ritter (86’ Robinson), Kaloc, Opoku (86’ Abiama) - Ache (77’ Hanslik)
Hamburger SV: Raab - Hadzikadunic (77’ Reis), Schonlau, Muheim - Hefti (77’ Sahiti), Elfadli, Meffert, Balde (60’ Dompe) - Richter (60’ Karabec) - Glatzel, Königsdörffer (60’ Selke)

Goals: 1-0 Ache (33’), 2-0 Tachie (50’), 2-1 Glatzel (58’), 2-2 Selke (90+5’)

Attendance: 49,327 (sold-out)

Referee: Dr. Florian Exner (Münster)

Yellow cards: Wekesser, Kaloc / Hadzikadunic, Selke, Hefti