Team

A special goal with an emotional message

Ransford Königsdörffer scored the only goal, and his first in the league this season, in the 1-0 win over Elversberg. This led to an emotional celebration.

When he finally found the net at the third attempt, Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer let his emotions run free. The HSV forward slid towards the corner flag on both knees and placed his index fingers in his ears. The 22-year-old was then surrounded by his teammates, who were not only celebrating the only goal in the 1-0 win over Elversberg, but were also all delighted for ‘Ransi’.

In memory of Diawusie

There was a hidden emotional meaning behind the Berlin-born man’s celebration. Königsdörffer was imitating that of his cousin Agyemang Diawusie, who died in late November at the age of 25. Königsdörffer had already honoured the memory of Diawusie with his previous HSV goal, which made it 3-2 at Hertha BSC in their DFB-Pokal Round of 16 clash. He had even played alongside his cousin at SG Dynamo Dresden. For this goal, he had formed an ‘A’ with his hand and fingers. Despite scoring in his birth city of Berlin, HSV were beaten on penalties, with Königsdörffer himself failing to convert his kick in the shootout.

"Football’s sometimes like that. The most difficult shot went in."

The goal after a months-long drought in the league was all the more sweet because it was both important and brilliantly-taken. “It was a very important goal for me personally. It’s been a really long time, and I don’t have very good memories of the last goal in Berlin,” explained Königsdörffer in the Mixed-Zone straight after the match. It didn’t escape his attention that he had scored from the most difficult of a multitude of chances. “I could have scored two or three goals today. Unfortunately, I missed the chances to score another goal. But football’s sometimes like that. The most difficult shot went in.”

There is therefore still room to improve. New head coach Steffen Baumgart, who brought the 22-year-old into his starting eleven as a replacement for the injured Dompe, also mentioned that in his matchday press conference. “One or two things were missing with every single player. I think he has to go back to where his strengths lie. They lie in direct forward runs and finishing.” The right-footer also needs more single-mindedness and end product. This emotional goal should though be an important stepping stone on his journey. “The finish from ‘Ransi’ was great. We’re really pleased for him; he hasn’t had an easy season so far. Scoring the winning goal will do him good,” said striker Robert Glatzel, a man who clearly knows a thing or two about scoring goals.