This derby will remain warmly remembered in the cool north for a long time. In a dramatic game with crazy twists and turns, HSV narrowly beat their rivals from Bremen 3:2 (0:1).
Substitute Yussuf Poulsen, of all people, scored the winning goal with his first goal in a Hamburg uniform in a breathtaking game, especially in the second half.
Jens Stage had put Bremen in the lead (45th minute). After the break, Hamburg turned the game around with Albert Sambi Lokonga (63′) and Luka Vušković (75′), who scored sensationally with his backheel.
“We conceded three goals, we defended poorly. This defeat hurts enormously”said Werder goalscorer Jens Stage to the Sportschau after the thrilling 90 minutes.
Juggles and hardness
HSV coach Merlin Polzin had made six changes to his team since they lost the cup against Holstein Kiel. Horst Steffen, on the other hand, decided not to make a change compared to the last Bundesliga game.
It turned out to be a high-intensity duel, with a lot of physical toughness, even with one or two fights, which further fueled the derby fire. The great atmosphere in the sold-out Hamburg Arena did the rest.
Stage takes advantage of the great opportunity
HSV was closer to 1-0 in the first half than Bremen. A lot of Jean-Luc Dompé went down the left side. Ryan Philippe missed one of his crosses by just centimeters.
The goal then came somewhat surprisingly on the other side. Nicolas Capaldo misplaced the ball on the right wing. Romano Schmid reacted quickly and got Stage into position.
HSV fans fog up the stadium
The Dane used his space and coolly sank the ball from 18 meters. For Stage it was already the 5th goal of the season and the somewhat fortunate lead for the Green-Whites at this point.
Referee Sascha Stegemann was only able to start the second half almost ten minutes late because a lot of pyrotechnics from the HSV blocks clouded the entire stadium.
Lokonga and Vušković turn the game around
HSV put up the deficit well and really hit the ground running in the second half. That was rewarded. A cross from substitute Miro Muheim landed at Lokonga, who cleverly received the ball, placed it on his left foot and made it 1-1.
Just twelve minutes later, Hamburg took the lead – and what a lead it was: A free kick from Capaldo actually landed in the back of Luka Vušković, but he kicked the ball into the goal with his heel, making it unstoppable for Backhaus. HSV had turned the game around, but only for a few minutes.
Poulsen makes the arena shake
Because Bremen struck back immediately. After a one-two with Sugawara, Schmid had his eye on Joker Njinmah, who was lurking in the middle of the penalty area, and he scored with a powerful shot from nine meters.
But that shouldn’t be the end of this entertaining game either. Yussuf Poulsen, who has not yet had a happy time in Hamburg, made sure of that. Coming on as a substitute shortly before, the striker took advantage of a great pass from Muheim for a dry shot into the left corner. This ball was also unsustainable and sent all Hamburg residents into a frenzy.
Poulsen: “It tastes very good”
“Three points in the northern derby, that tastes very good”said goalscorer Poulsen, who especially thanked Muheim, who provided the assist, to the sports show. “I don’t have to tell him where I want the ball. He just puts it where I want it.”said the Dane.
After almost eight long years, Hamburg had once again won a northern derby in the Bundesliga against their old rivals.
HSV in Hoffenheim, Bremen against Stuttgart
HSV will be guests at TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m.). Bremen welcomes VfB Stuttgart on Sunday evening (7:30 p.m.).