Table leaders defended
© Imago
Hamburger SV convincingly defended the lead in the 2nd Bundesliga. Six days after the first defeat under head coach Merlin Polzin, the team won 4-1 (2-1) against the fellow promotion competitor Fortuna Düsseldorf. Compared to the 0: 2 at SC Paderborn, the HSV presented itself to itself particularly improved on the offensive.
Miro Muheim (7th minute), striker Davie Selke (40th), Adam Karabec (66th) and Otto Stange in added time met for the hosts, who now have one point more than 1. FC Köln in the table. Dawid Kownacki (18th) had achieved the interim compensation for otherwise weak Düsseldorf.
The game was also a duel between HSV coach Polzin with his sponsor and friend Daniel Thioune, who also trained the HSV in 2020/21. Polzin’s team was dominating in the tenth time in the season with 57,000 spectators from the start. In the first half, the Düsseldorf rarely came from their own half.
Muheim rewarded his team’s efforts early on with his 28-meter shot. After that, the Hamburgers gained further opportunities by Selke (10th) and William Mikelbrencis (14th). The compensation of the Fortuna by Kownacki fell as surprisingly as it was undeserved with the first and long time the only shot on the goal of the guests.
The HSV was not shocked, continued to play forward. Karabec (38th) and the outstanding Ludovit Reis (38th) awarded the best options within seconds. Selke removed his team with his 17th seasonor before the break.
In the second section, the game became more open. The Düsseldorf team did more for the game. Nevertheless, the HSV still had good opportunities. The Fortuna was always dangerous due to counterattack.
Ísak Jóhannesson (57th) tried to score the empty goal of the Hamburgers from 40 meters when goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes had moved too far. But the ball flew past the goal. When Karabec scored for HSV, the decision was made. Bad luck for Fortuna’s good keeper Florian Kastenmeier that the ball flew from the post against his back and then into the goal. The crowning glory was the gate of the rod recently substituted to the final score.