After a real lesson at VfB Stuttgart, Hamburger SV needs a football miracle for promotion to the Bundesliga. The second division third lost in the first part of the relegation drama on Thursday 0: 3 (0: 1) and has to improve massively in the second leg next Monday (8.45 p.m. / Sat.1 and Sky) to somehow still win the Stuttgart team as a Bundesliga club to detach. To make matters worse, Anssi Suhonen, who had just come on as a substitute, saw the red card after a hard, unsportsmanlike foul (69th).
Konstantinos Mavropanos after a few seconds, former HSV professional Josha Vagnoman (51st) and Serhou Guirassy (54th) put VfB in the best starting position with their goals to avert the third relegation since 2016 in the relegation. Guirassy missed a penalty kick (27′), in the first half the dominant Bundesliga club could have scored more goals in front of 47,500 spectators in the sold-out arena. The HSV-Elf coached by Tim Walter, who once had to leave VfB in strife, did not take part in an offensive for a long time.
Mavropanos celebrated his powerful header into the goal exuberantly with his tongue out. In the block of HSV fans who had traveled with them, who had just detonated smoke bombs, it suddenly became very quiet. Last year, Hamburg failed in the relegation to Hertha BSC with ex-coach Felix Magath – HSV conceded a very early goal in the second leg.
From Hamburg’s point of view, things could have gotten worse in Stuttgart earlier when Chris Führich showed up with speed in the HSV penalty area. But goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes parried the shot of the 25-year-old (9th). Stuttgart showed a class difference in their attacks, HSV had great difficulty keeping away the VfB offensive around Guirassy.
There is a lot at stake for both clubs
The 27-year-old striker, who had just signed on permanently from Stade Rennes, was denied by two other huge chances, one from the penalty spot, in the space of minutes by Heuer Fernandes (23′ and 27′). Ludovit Reis caused the penalty. Führich also failed again at the HSV goalkeeper (29th). In the Stuttgart goal, instead of the injured first-choice goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow, there was substitute Florian Müller.
For both clubs, there is a lot at stake in the relegation. The financial cuts for VfB would be in the tens of millions if they were relegated, and HSV definitely want to save themselves their sixth year in the second division. After a good half hour, the guests briefly came dangerously in front of the Stuttgart goal. A shot by Robert Glatzel was blocked (35′).
HSV coach Walter experienced his extraordinary return full of energy on the sidelines. VfB went into their last second division season with the player from Baden, after just six months Walter had to leave the day before Christmas Eve 2019. “It’s going to be a great game: VfB Stuttgart, great club, against HSV, great club,” Walter teased. For the “great club” Mavropanos missed the next good chance with a header in added time in the first half.
Vagnoman then rewarded Stuttgart after submitting Führich and Enzo Millot. The fans in the Cannstatt curve celebrated loudly, the goal scorer, who was born in Hamburg, visibly held back. Guirassy, who finally scored, finally made the decision in the first leg. Even if Glatzel missed Hamburg’s best chance to date with a header (59′). The Hamburgers improved until the final whistle, but the big burden for the second leg remained.
Minute of silence before the game
The German Football League commemorated the 15-year-old killed in a youth tournament with a minute’s silence before the game. There was a moment of silence before kick-off on Thursday evening in the Stuttgart Arena. The DFL announced that the campaign would also take place before the relegation match between third division SV Wehen Wiesbaden and second division Arminia Bielefeld this Friday.
The young footballer from JFC Berlin was critically injured in a physical attack by an opponent last Sunday in Frankfurt am Main and died on Wednesday. The alleged perpetrator, a 16-year-old from France, is said to have hit the Berlin boy on the head from behind. He is in custody and, according to his club FC Metz, denies intentionally injuring the boy. (dpa)
Source: Tagesspiegel
Brayden White, a veteran sports writer at Global Happening, brings his wealth of knowledge and expertise to the sports section. With over a decade of experience, he is committed to delivering high-quality coverage of the latest games and events.
