Lacklustre Hamburg suffer early cup exit in Dresden

Dresden pressure leads to early double for hosts

Daniel Thioune changed things up for his first competitive game in charge, ditching the three-at-the-back system which had brought success against Feyenoord and Hertha, opting instead for a classic four-at-the-back with Toni Leistner and Jonas David as a centre-back partnership. The 46-year-old's reign got off to the worst possible start, as the home side took the lead inside the first three minutes. Jeremy Dudziak lost the ball on the halfway line, and the Black and Yellows broke quickly, Weihrauch sprinting down the left-hand side and crossing into the middle where Stark was waiting to place past Heuer Fernandes expertly on the half-volley. A frenetic opening to the game saw a host of chances for both sides in the first 10 minutes of the new season, with the hosts in particular looking to pressure their guests early and sharply. The Saxon side were rewarded for their bright start with a second in the 16th minute, hurrying and hassling Lukas Hinterseer high up the pitch who gave the ball away under pressure. Robin Becker made the most of the situation, striding into the penalty area and firing past Heuer Fernandes from the right-hand edge of the box thanks to a deflection from the covering Jonas David. 

The game lost an amount of energy after the Dresden second, as the hosts relented with the pressure somewhat, unable to maintain the persistent pressing of the opening quarter of an hour. The Rothosen were seeing a large amount of the ball, as much as 70% at one point in the half, but were lacking the pace on the ball to stretch the massed Dresden defensive lines. Lukas Hinterseer had the two best chances for the guests in the first period in the space of two minutes close to the half-time whistle. The second saw a sweeping counter end with Sonny Kittel on the left-hand edge of the area, pulling back to the Austrian striker eight yards out who managed to slide the ball over the bar with the goal at his mercy. As it was the hosts entered the break with a deserved two-goal lead.