Match report
07.10.23
HSV unlucky to miss out on win away at Wiesbaden
HSV narrowly missed out on a deserved win in their away game at SV Wehen Wiesbaden and had to settle for a 1-1 draw after missing a penalty in additional time.
Hamburger SV and SV Wehen Wiesbaden couldn’t be separated on Saturday (7th October) as the two sides played out a 1-1 draw. The visitors were the better side throughout the entirety of the game at the sold-out BRITA Arena filled by 12,500 spectators, with approximately 3,500 HSV supporters creating an atmosphere reminiscent of their team’s home games. HSV created numerous opportunities, but were unable to find a deserved opener. Instead, the hosts grabbed the opener against the run of play through Vukotic following a corner in the 81st minute. However, HSV didn’t give up as they levelled things up through a wonderful strike from distance from Muheim (89’), and even had all three points at their mercy. However, Benes hit the bar with a penalty in the eighth minute of added time as HSV unfortunately missed out on a 2-1 win.
Benes strikes the bar early on
HSV head coach Tim Walter kept his faith in the eleven who started the 1-0 win against leaders Fortuna Düsseldorf a week ago. The Rothosen, wearing their blue strip, once again took control away from home against the promoted side, who were recently unlucky to be narrowly eliminated from the DFB-Pokal after an unlucky 3-2 loss against the reigning champions RB Leipzig. HSV had 75 percent of the ball in the opening ten minutes, but it was SV Wehen Wiesbaden who had the first dangerous chance of the game.
Goppel put in a cross, with Ramos’ failure to clear the ball causing Heuer Fernandes problems. However, the keeper reacted well as usual and managed to defuse the danger, allowing HSV to continue to dictate the play against the hosts, who were defending very deep and were lined up with a back-five. Nevertheless, HSV struggled to find the necessary space or manage any truly threatening efforts at goal due to the hosts’ compact set-up, meaning that they were limited to shots from distance from Muheim, Benes and Öztunali. Benes had the biggest chance as he took aim from 18 yards from a central position, hitting the bar with his effort. This was a sign of things to come in the last ten minutes of the first half, during which HSV were able to find dangerous positions in front of the hosts’ goal on multiple occasions. However, they were consistently a couple of inches away from taking a decisive lead – whether that was due to the shot, the crucial pass or being in an offside position. Consequently, the two sides went into the break level, despite the Rothosen leading the shot count 12-2.
Déjà-vu late on for HSV
The pattern of the game didn’t change after the half-time break. HSV remained on top against the passionate hosts, who were also defending cleverly, and had their best chance after about an hour as a result of their best move of the half, but Reis wasn’t able to make the most of it. It continued to be a matter of patience for HSV as they looked to find a gap in the home side’s organised defence, with Glatzel and Co. continuously trying to find a breakthrough.
HSV looked to attack down the flanks, moving the ball about and passing quickly, yet the Wiesbaden’s defence only broke down in parts. Reis had an effort at goal and Benes had another shooting chance, but these openings were all too rare despite HSV’s superiority on the pitch. Then, something happened which so often occurs in football: one team dominates and has all the play, but the other attacks once and scores the decisive goal. On this occasion, it was Wehen defender Vukotic who went forward for a corner as part of one of the hosts’ rare attacks and slotted home after Heuer Fernandes had saved Mathisen’s initial header, making it 1-0 to SVWW less than ten minutes before the end of normal time. However, HSV recovered quickly from this blow, advancing forward and equalising late on with their 20th shot of the game – Muheim made it 1-1 with a strike into the left corner from twenty yards, triggering a thrilling end to the game including a long period of added time in which HSV were awarded a penalty for a foul on Pherai. However, Benes’ powerful effort came back off the bar – the second time he had struck the woodwork in the game, one in which the Rothosen were denied a deserved win in the final seconds.
Match facts:
SV Wehen Wiesbaden: Stritzel - Angha, Mathisen (83' Mockenhaupt), Vukotic - Goppel (75' Catic), Fechner, Heußer, Günther (46' Rieble), Bätzner, Lee (61' Froese)- Kovacevic (46' Jonjic)
Hamburger SV: Heuer Fernandes - van der Brempt, Hadzikadunic (79' Nemeth), Ramos, Muheim - Meffert (79' Dompe), Reis, Benes - Jatta (74' Pherai), Glatzel, Öztunali (54' Königsdörffer)
Goals: 1-0 Vukotic (81'), 1-1 Muheim (89')
Attendance: 12,500 (sold-out)
Referee: Wolfgang Haslberger (St. Wolfgang)
Yellow cards: Fechner / Muheim, Reis