HSV emerge victorious in a 2-1 win over Kaiserslautern

Lots of chances, but only two goals

HSV head coach Steffan Baumgart made three changes to the line-up from last weekend’s 1-1 draw with SpVgg Greuther Fürth for the clash against 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which saw left-back Katterbach replace Muheim, who is currently suspended. Additionally, Jatta and Pherai both started the game on the bench, meaning midfielders Suhonen and Poreba were called into action for the side. Both teams got off to a flying start and had chances early on, which saw Ache (4’) and Benes (6’) nod the ball just wide of their respective targets just minutes apart from each other. The hosts seized control of the game after that, and had yet another clear-cut chance through captain Schonlau, whose header effort narrowly missed the net (10’). The visitors responded and created a number of goalscoring opportunities from set pieces through Opoku (11‘), Puchacz (12‘), and Ache (26‘), all of which were unsuccessful.

HSV’s keeper was forced to step up not long after when Richmond Tachie pulled the trigger from twelve metres out, but Raab got low quickly and cleared the danger for the hosts (27’). Benes then got in on the action with a first-time hit in the direction of FCK’s net, but his strike was denied by the woodwork (31’). However, the Slovakian’s efforts were finally rewarded and luck was on his side when a save from Kaiserslautern’s keeper fell to his feet, and the striker could slot it home on his first touch to open the scoring. Just when HSV thought they would have the advantage heading into the break, FCK had other ideas. The visitors regained possession in the middle and combined down the left before squaring it into Opoku on the back post, where the unmarked striker ran onto the ball and found the back of the net (45’ +1).