Match report

Steinmann and Ito fire HSV to 2-1 victory against Rapid Vienna

A positive performance and goals from Matti Steinman (42') and Tatsuya Ito (58') sealed the win for the Rothosen against the Austrian record champions.

HSV wrapped up the Austria training camp with another impressive with. Following Wednesday’s 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow, the Rothosen edged a 2-1 victory against Austrian record champions SK Rapid Vienna. Matti Steinmann gave Christian Titz’s side the lead in the 42nd minute. The hosts equalised shortly after the restart, before Tatsuya Ito scored the winner on the hour mark following some fine link-up play from Christoph Moritz and Lewis Holtby.

Titz had to do without Hunt, Santos, Jatta and Gideon Jung for the final test ahead of the return to Germany. There were changes from the Moscow match, with Bates coming in to central defence, Ambrosius at right back and Narey moving back to left back. Steinmann sat in holding midfield, while Wintzheimer got a run-out up top. Ambrosius’ evening was sadly cut short after 25 minutes when he suffered an injury to the right knee. Vagnoman replaced him and Narey switched to the right.

Stephan Ambrosius was forced off with an injury in the first half.

SAVED BY THE POST AHEAD OF OPENER

The Rothosen controlled the game from the start, enjoying the greater share of possession, as in recent games. The hosts adjusted to HSV’s game after 20 minutes, however, and began to threaten Pollersbeck’s goal. Burg’s shot flew marginally wide, before Pollersbeck was forced to pull out all the stops to clear Berisha’s chance for a corner just moments later.

But it was HSV who had the best chance in the opening half hour: Vagnoman beating his man 1-on-1 on the corner of the box and passing to Holtby, who quickly fed squared to Wintzheimer. The 19-year old wasn’t able to connect enough to tap home from close range.

Rapid hit back at the other end and would have taken the lead but for a Pollersbeck save with his feet (39’), before Knasmüller’s strike rattled the post. The Rothosen rode their luck at one end, but made it count at the other end with a fine goal to open the scoring. Ito chipped the ball through two players to Jairo, who dribbled to the by-line, taking out two players in the process, before feeding Steinmann for a simple finish from three yards.

RAPID HIT BACK, ITO BAGS WINNER

The hosts made five changes at the break and the fresh impulse paid off almost instantly, as they equalised through a 22-yard strike from Malicsek just two minutes after the restart. Despite the setback, Hitz’s held their composure and restored their lead just 12 minutes later. Once again, clever build-up play from the boys in blue – Moritz feeding Holtby down the left, who squared the ball to Ito for a simple finish from close range.

Teams

Rapid Wien: Strebinger (60.Knoflach) – Potzmann (60.Thurnwald), Hofmann (46.Sonnleitner), Barac (46.Müldür), Bolingoli (46.Auer) – Ljubicic (46.Malicsek), Schwab (60.Arase) – Murg (60.Martic), Knasmüller (46.Ivan), Berisha (75.Gashi) – Alar (60.Kostic)

HSV: Pollersbeck - Ambrosius (25.Vagnoman), Bates, van Drongelen, Narey (59.Knost) - Steinmann (46.Moritz) - Jairo (59.Kwarteng), Holtby, Janjicic (83.David), Ito (76.Lasogga) - Wintzheimer (59.Arp)

Goals: 0-1 Steinmann (42‘), 1-1 Malicsek (47‘), 1-2 Ito (58‘)

Spectators: 10,700