Pohjanpalo the difference in Dresden for hard-fought HSV victory

Goalless at the half as chances go begging 

The HSV coaching staff made one change from the starting line-up that took to the field only four days earlier, with Bakery Jatta being replaced by Martin Harnik on the right wing. The game started at the same pace as the breathless 3-3 draw against Kiel, with both sides looking to make their mark on the game in the opening quarter of an hour. Ransford Königsdörffer had the best chance for the hosts after only four minutes, pouncing on Adrian Fein giving away possession in the middle of the park, but Aaron Hunt was back in time to clear the 18-year-old's dangerous cross away from waiting strike partner Makienok. New-man in the starting eleven Martin Harnik was making his presence felt, and had a flurry of chances, as first his volley was cleared off the line in the ninth minute by Chris Löwe, before David Kinsombi played a lovely ball round the corner, but the Austrian couldn't keep his shot down to trouble Kevin Broll in the Dresden net. 

Dresden looked most dangerous from set-piece situations, particularly given Hamburg's frailties at those kind of situations throughout the season, with a dangerous free-kick from Patrick Ebert being cleared at the last minute by Rick van Drongelen in the 24th minute. From then on it was one-way traffic as Dynamo were too imprecise trying to clear their lines meaning there was almost no let-up for their defensive unit. Aaron Hunt played through to Martin Harnik, who, with his back to goal, spun beautifully to face Broll one-on-one but decided to try and find Sonny Kittel rather than shoot himself and the pass was intercepted. The guests were guilty of being too cute on a number of occasions, when Kittel himself should have had a shot when all alone 14 yards out, with the 27-year-old's pass also intercepted in the six-yard area. It was left to the former Ingolstadt man to test Broll with the final action of the first half, the second of two speculative attempts from the edge of the area which brought out a secure if unspectacular save from the Dresden stopper from the second. As it was, the teams couldn't be separated at the break, with the Black and Golds compact as a defensive unit and threatening on the counter, and the Rothosen ruing a number of high-quality chances to put themselves ahead.