HSV win 5-3 in high-scoring thriller against Schalke 04

… and a deserved win at full time

The game plan for the second half was clear, with an immediate reaction needed to turn the game around again. Walter’s men did just that, putting Schalke under enormous pressure with a number of threatening attacks at the start of the second half. In the 56th minute, this pressure finally paid off. Glatzel‘s shirt was pulled in the box, bringing him down, and resulting in a penalty was confidently put away by Laszlo Benes. The Slovakia international doubled his tally three minutes later, delicately chipping the ball over the onrushing Schalke goalkeeper following a rapid counter-attack from a Schalke corner, and putting HSV back ahead. The Volksparkstadion had turned into an absolute cauldron, with every successful action on the pitch greeted by a frenetic celebration. This atmosphere was slightly subdued in the 66th minute when Simon Terodde of all people (played for HSV in the 2020/21 season) equalised for Schalke to provide yet another twist in the tale. The game took another turn five minutes later, with S04 defender Ibrahima Cisse sent off for a second bookable offensive after a foul on Öztunali (71’).

With a man-advantage, the ‘Rothosen’ began to dominate the game once again and had lots of possession in Schalke’s half. HSV were almost rewarded for this prolonged period of pressure through substitute Miro Muheim, whose curling shot from distance smashed into the far post (81’). Like in the first half, it once again appeared that the whistle would sound inside an electric Volksparkstadion with both teams level, but once again the ball found its way into the back of the net. Glatzel was alive inside the box, getting on the end of a ball poked through to him, before rounding the ‘keeper and smashing the ball home from a tight angle to send the Nordtribüne into ecstasy. The team celebrated passionately by the corner flag in the type of scenes which can give you momentum for the whole season. The ‘Rothosen’ didn’t just get the win over the line but managed to extend their lead with another goal in additional time. Substitute Jean-Luc Dompe clinically finished off a counter-attack, bringing the first game of the 2023/24 season to a perfect conclusion.