Match report
10.09.16
1-3! Pohjanpalo hat trick sinks HSV
After HSV took the lead through Bobby Wood (58.), the home side came from behind to win thanks to a second half hat trick by Leverkusen’s Joel Pohjanpalo (79./90.+1/90.+4).
HSV return to Hamburg with a bitter defeat ringing in their ears. The Rothosen lost 1-3 to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon (10.09) in front of a capacity crown inside the BayArena, on Bundesliga matchday 2. After a good HSV display the first half ended goalless. The visitors deservedly took the lead through USA striker Bobby Wood, scoring his second goal in his second game (58). Bayer substitute Joel Pohjanpalo came on saw and scored, not once but three times! Firstly he equalised on 79 minutes, before making it 2-1 in injury time. As HSV threw everything forward he scored his third (90.+4). Despite performing well, Bruno Labbadia’s men returned home empty handed.
Rare goal mouth action before the break
Bruno Labbadia was forced to make two changes to the side which drew 1-1 at home with Ingolstadt on matchday 1 before the international break. Skipper Johan Djourou returned from international duty after beating Euro champs Portugal with Switzerland with a pulled thigh muscle. That meant that Emir Spahic returned at centre back after recovering from a broken eye socket. Lewis Holtby replaced injured team mate Gideon Jung. The former Schalke midfielder had himself only just recovered from a broken collarbone.
There were only two incidents worthy of note during the opening 45 minutes for the attack-minded home side (featuring two former HSV men in their starting line-up (Tah and Calhanoglu). One was a shot by Mehmedi (9.), who then headed into HSV keeper Réne Adler’s arms (37.). That was the only time Bayer “threatened” the HSV goal in the first half. The teams went into the break on an even keel because HSV also failed to display prowess in front of goal. Only a shot by Gregoritsch (13.) and then a world class ball played through to the Müller by the Austrian who rushed his effort which then flew wide of target.
Spectaculer change after the break
The second half began like the first had ended . with both teams cancelling each other out in midfield. That all changed after ten minutes. Firstly Calhanoglu drilled a shot agonisingly wide of the far post with Adler well beaten. HSV then scored out of the blue during that period of Bayer pressure. After winning the ball in midfield Gregoritsch played a quick through ball to the feet of Wood. Leno had left his goal line but slipped, allowing the USA man to double his tally for the season to two , easily sliding the ball into the empty net in front of the HSV fans (58.). Leverkusen reacted angrily and Henrichs (59.) and Chicharito, who could only strike a post with his effort threatened within moments of the opening goal. An equaliser se3emed to be around the corner, but around that corner came Pohjanpalo.
The Finn who was on loan at Fortuna Düsseldorf last season, came on after 72 minutes. Seven minutes later he equalised with his head following superb work by Kampl and Brandt (79.). Most in the 30,210 sell out crowd must have been thinking that the game would end in a draw. But Pohjanpalo had other ideas. Henrichs broke down the left before putting a pinpoint cross to the feet of the Finn, who clinically finished (pardon the pun) to make it 2-1 to Leverkusen (90.+1) in injury time. HSV of course threw everything forward only to be caught cold by a Bayer counter attack which ended in Pohjanpalo completing his hat trick. HSV can only turn their focus to matchday 3, as the host RB Leibzig for the very first time . That game at the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg takes place on Saturday September 17 and kicks off at 3.30 PM.
Match details:
Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Leno - Henrichs, Tah, Toprak, Wendell (88. Jedvaj) - L. Bender, Kampl - Bellarabi (3. Brandt), Mehmedi (72. Pohjanpalo) - Calhanoglu - Chicharito
HSV: Adler - G. Sakai, Cleber, Spahic, Ostrzolek - Hunt, Holtby (66. Ekdal) - N. Müller, Gregoritsch , Kostic (86. Halilovic) - Wood (81. Lasogga)
Goals: 0:1 Wood (58.), 1:1 Pohjanpalo (79.), 2:1 Pohjanpalo (90.+1), 3:1 Pohjanpalo (90.+4)
Att: 30.210 (sold out)
Referee: Tobias Welz (Wiesbaden)
Booked: Tah (71.), Kampl (90.) / Sakai (64.), Hunt (83.)