Match report

HSV round off 2024 with resounding 5-0 home win

The Rothosen’s final match of the year ended in a resounding victory over SpVgg Greuther Fürth. A brace from Selke, along with goals from Hadzikadunic, Karabec and substitute Stange handed HSV a decisive 5-0 home win.

On Saturday, 21st December, Hamburger SV recorded a deserved and resounding 5-0 win over SpVgg Greuther Fürth in their final game of 2024. In front of 54,786 spectators at an almost sold-out Volksparkstadion, Hamburg came out full of attacking intent and took the lead inside a minute through Hadzikadunic, before Selke and Karabec both netted to make it 3-0 at half time. Selke added his second after the break, while young substitute Stange also scored to round off a 5-0 win, making it a successful end to the year for the Rothosen and their fans.

First minute, first corner, first goal: Dennis Hadzikadunic heads Muheim’s delivery into the net to give HSV an early lead.

A dream start for Hamburg …

HSV coach Polzin made four changes to his starting eleven, as Mikelbrencis, Pherai, Sahiti and Meffert came in for Hefti, Richter, Jatta and the suspended Elfadli. This new-look Hamburg side made a lightning-fast start and won their first corner through Selke after just a few seconds. Hadzikadunic met Muheim’s delivery with a powerful header on the edge of the six-yard box to score the opener in the first minute, with a bit of help from the underside of the bar.

This was a dream start from the Rothosen, who kept piling on the pressure after taking the lead. Pherai had another good chance before Selke headed in a Dompe cross to make it 2-0 in the eleventh minute. And HSV weren’t in the mood to let up, kept going and added a third just two minutes later. Muheim played it through to Karabec, who beat the last Fürth defender with a stepover before slotting the ball into the bottom left-hand corner. Incredible! The Volkspark was bouncing, the fans in the crowd were still celebrating and the team on the pitch continued to dominate proceedings. HSV were defensively solid, clinical, flexible and enjoying themselves against a Fürth side who did start to gradually get a bit more of a foothold in the game. Heuer Fernandes was forced into his first save in the 34th minute from a Hrgota shot from distance, which wouldn’t have counted anyway due to an offside in the build-up. Other than that, Hamburg had the match under control, conceded very few chances and went in at half time deservedly 3-0 up.

The moment of the match: After coming off the bench, Otto Stange had the Volksparkstadion on their feet with his first senior goal.

… and an emotional moment

After the break, HSV continued their dominance and created more good opportunities. Dompe cut inside from the left and fired narrowly wide of the post, before Muheim and Hadzikadunic almost combined from another corner for a carbon copy of the opening goal. Selke eventually made it four just before the hour mark when he tapped home after great work from Mikelbrencis. It was a brace for Selke, 4-0 to HSV and an incredible atmosphere at the Volkspark. Karabec was then inches away from making it 5-0 soon after.

HSV though were handed a reminder that they still need to keep concentration, as two small defensive lapses led directly to two Fürth chances, but Heuer Fernandes saved brilliantly on both occasions to preserve his clean sheet. These were the only two blips on the Rothosen’s performance however, and they continued to control the game. After double-scorer Selke had come off to a deserved round of applause, Polzin replaced him with the 17-year-old Stange, who had the Volksparkstadion on their feet two minutes into just the fourth substitute appearance of his career. He hammered the ball home from a Suhonen assist to make it 5-0. The whole team, staff and Rothosen bench ran to celebrate with Stange, who had scored his first senior goal in front of the Nordtribüne (North Stand). This was an emotional highlight of the final matchday before the Christmas break, which HSV marked with a decisive home win, which the team and fans celebrated together after the final whistle.

Match statistics:

Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - Mikelbrencis, Hadzikadunic, Schonlau, Muheim - Meffert (74’ Suhonen), Pherai (65’ Poreba), Karabec (81’ Richter) - Sahiti (65’ Katterbach), Selke (74’ Stange), Dompe

SpVgg Greuther Fürth: Schulze - Dietz, Jung, Meyerhöfer - Asta, Banse (69’ Müller), Green (46’ Srbeny), Gießelmann (81’ Münz) - Hrgota, Mustapha (46’ Massimo) - Futkeu (81’ Michalski)

Goals: 1-0 Hadzikadunic (1’), 2-0 Selke (11’), 3-0 Karabec (13’), 4-0 Selke (59’), 5-0 Stange (76’)

Attendance: 54,786

Referee: Timo Gerach (Landau)

Yellow cards: Pherai / Mustapha

Red cards: - / -