Culbreath makes his starting eleven debut
©IMAGO
Thanks to substitute striker Christian Kofane, Bayer 04 Leverkusen has overcome its small crisis in results. The Rhinelanders, who were last winless in three competitive games, won the Bundesliga catch-up game at Hamburger SV 1-0 (0-0). Kofane, who played for top scorer Patrik Schick, who was injured at short notice, redeemed the Rhinelanders with his goal after 73 minutes.
Thanks to the success in a weak game, especially in the first half, the sixth-placed team moved within one point of Leipzig and is still one of the contenders for the premier class qualification. The Hanseatic League suffered its second defeat in a row in front of 57,000 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion and have not won in three league games. The promoted team is in eleventh place, only four points away from the relegation zone.
The game on matchday 17 at the end of the first half of the season was actually supposed to be played shortly after the severe onset of winter in the north in January. But the game was postponed due to the partially accumulated condensation on the roof membrane and the associated safety concerns.
With the temperatures now much milder, the Leverkusen team started without Schick, who was not there due to muscular problems. Kofane played for him. However, the Cameroonian was not involved when the guests threatened for the first time after seven minutes: 18-year-old debutant Montrell Culbreath missed the goal with a header. A few minutes later, Martin Terrier directed a cross onto the crossbar of the HSV goal.
A week before the first leg of the round of 16 in the Champions League against Arsenal FC, the guests tried to show a different face than last. And the eye-catching Ibrahim Maza almost won a penalty. But the foul by HSV substitute captain Nicolai Remberg on Maza took place outside the penalty area, the video referee ruled after the referee Sören Storks had first awarded a penalty.
HSV coach Merlin Polzin, who had to make do without vice-captains Nicolás Capaldo (abdominal muscle injury) and Miro Muheim (yellow suspension), did not include the actual captain Yussuf Poulsen in the squad for reasons of load management. After almost 30 minutes, Polzin had to compensate for the next loss. Bakery Jatta left the pitch injured.
Leverkusen were the better team, but they didn’t find enough resources against the well-stocked HSV defense. Shortly after the restart there was a tricky scene in the Hamburg penalty area. Luka Vuskovic stepped on Kofane’s foot, who initially remained lying down. But the penalty whistle didn’t blow – luck for HSV. Shortly afterwards, Edmond Tapsoba missed the lead with his head while standing free.
HSV only had their first real big chance after 55 minutes, when Remberg brought the ball way too centrally towards the goal from a short distance in the penalty area – and thus directly into the hands of Bayer goalkeeper Janis Blaswich. On the other side, Tapsoba had a goal disallowed because the ball had hit the defender’s hand.
Then Schick’s replacement Kofane made it better: After the pass from the strong Maza, the 19-year-old executed Fernandes in the best attacker style without a chance for HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer.
