Close, but well deserved: Bayer Leverkusen is back in business in the fight for the Champions League places with a 1-0 win at Hamburger SV.
Leverkusen’s center forward Christian Kofane was the match winner in the catch-up game on matchday 17 with his goal in the 72nd minute. Ibrahim Maza contributed the assist. Overall, the game was a very one-sided affair, but Bayer failed to clear things up early on.
HSV coach Merlin Polzin had wished for significantly more effort before the game than three days earlier in the 1-2 defeat against RB Leipzig. His counterpart Kasper Hjulmand also called for more activity than in the 1-1 draw against Mainz – and in fact there was no lack of commitment on both sides.
Downs without a shot on goal, HSV without a chance
What was lacking, however, was the danger of scoring – especially for the hosts. The Hamburg team went into the duels with determination and repeatedly won the ball, but it was over in the Leverkusen penalty area. Significantly: Center forward Damian Downs didn’t have a shot on goal in the entire first half; only Fabio Viera provided the hint of danger.
That was better at Leverkusen, but not efficient either. Already in the 8th minute, Maza hit a perfect left cross, but Montrell Culbreath, who had made a good start into the center, headed past the goal from the best position.
Terrier narrowly misses a dream goal
Shortly afterwards, Martin Terrier’s volley was technically outstanding, as he stroked a cross from Aleix Garcia from 13 meters towards the HSV goal. Daniel Heuer Fernandes had already mentally signed off, but the crossbar saved the 0-0.
Leverkusen continued to press and the lead seemed to be getting closer when referee Sören Storks pointed to the penalty spot after a foul by Nicolai Remberg on Maza. But the VAR intervened and moved the crime scene to the edge of the penalty area – Alex Grimaldo blasted the free kick into the wall.
Vuskovic foul in the penalty area not punished
Nothing further came from Hamburg offensively, but even with further half-chances for Maza (30th/past the far corner) and Edmond Tapsoba (53rd/Heuer Fernandes parries his header) there was ultimately a lack of consistency. There was also some bad luck with the referee: Luka Vuskovic stepped on Kofane’s foot with his studs in the penalty area – but neither Storks nor the VAR intervened.
It took Hamburg until the 55th minute to pose a threat for the first time – but Remberg was denied by Janis Blaswich from close range. Remberg’s shot was only the fourth of the evening for Hamburg – Bayer had three times the value at that point. The visitors had their 13th shot on goal: Maza opened the scoring with a brilliant chip ball, and Kofane finished with a full shot.
Blaswich saves against Stange and Vuskovic
Even after that, Blaswich remained largely unoccupied in the Leverkusen goal; that only changed in the second minute of stoppage time. Substitute Otto Stange made a solo run, went around three Bayer defenders and finished with the outside of his foot. But Blaswich went long and prevented the equalizer – which really wouldn’t have corresponded to the way the game was going.
It wouldn’t have mattered to HSV, and in fact they had another huge double chance in the 7th minute of stoppage time. But first Blaswich made a sensational save against Vuskovic, who had shot six meters in front of him. The Croatian then headed the rebound onto the top edge of the crossbar.
