Five-star HSV dismantle Osnabrück

Jatta nets again in clinical first half

Daniel Thioune named an unchanged line-up for the second game in a row, hoping to provide some stability for the starting eleven and build some momentum. The hosts came out of the blocks with momentum on their side, winning four corners within the opening quarter of an hour, as Osnabrück were pushed deep into their own half. Moments earlier Sonny Kittel was unable to find David Kinsombi after a fine counter-attack, but Josha Vagnoman brushed his man aside to win the ball back high up the pitch in the 16th minute, David Kinsombi drawing the final two defenders and laying off to Kittel, who curled the ball into the top corner past the helpless Philipp Kühn from 14 yards out. 

Conceding seemed to liven the guests up, who had sat deep since kick-off, seeing more of the ball and becoming more composed in possession, releasing the pressure their hosts had built up. Christian Santos had the ball in the net just before the half-hour mark but had clearly handled in the build-up from a corner, the closest Osnabrück would come in the opening period. As in recent weeks, it was the Rothosen's wingplay that was proving most effective, Tim Leibold and Bakery Jatta scampering into space despite playing on opposite flanks on this occasion. And it was play down the left that would lead to a perhaps undeserved second, Dudziak breaking to the byline and his cross only parried as far as Jatta by Kühn, who hammered into the roof of the net for his third goal in four games. Whilst Marco Grote's team had offered little on his return to the Volksparkstadion, the Rothosen had also produced few clear chances of note, but went into the break two goals to the good.