Fortuna Düsseldorf has reported back in the promotion race of the 2nd league. In the evening, the Fortunes easily beat the defensively weak Hamburger SV 2-0 (1-0).
“HSV is coming at the right time,” said Fortuna coach Daniel Thioune before his team’s Friday duel with the former Bundesliga club from Hamburg, coached by Steffen Baumgart. What he meant: Fortuna hasn’t had a successful run of its own in the past few weeks, but has still managed to get back close to the promotion places.
Tzolis crosses, Klaus scores – Fortuna takes an early lead
A win would bring them within one point of Hamburg – so the Thioune team started briskly. And already had reason to celebrate in the eleventh minute: striker Christos Tzolis had asserted himself energetically on the left and found Felix Klaus in the center with his flat cross, who pushed the ball over the line to make it 1-0. Graciously supported by the HSV defense, which was once again far too hesitant in defense.
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, March 8, 2024 9:51 p.m
Afterwards, Fortuna withdrew a bit and let HSV come. In fact, Hamburg took the initiative and gained a high degree of possession of the ball – but there were no clear chances to score. Striker Robert Glatzel had the best opportunity in the first half, narrowly missing Düsseldorf’s goal with a 15-meter shot in the 30th minute.
Nesrin Elnabolsy, sports show, March 8, 2024 10:19 p.m
HSV outnumbered from the 50th
Hamburg had big plans for the second half – that was clearly visible in their performance after the restart. The Fortunes were aggressively disrupted and harassed early on. But Moritz Heyer, who only came on as a substitute for the injured Noah Katterbach during the first half, exaggerated this. With his leg stretched out, he hit Düsseldorf’s goalscorer Klaus in the ankle – it was his second yellow card and he had to leave the field for it. From then on, HSV was only ten strong.
Ao Tanaka from Fortuna Düsseldorf in a duel with Immanuel Pherai from Hamburger SV
Fortune took advantage of that. But he again benefited from a lack of sleepiness in the Hamburg defense. Jonas Meffert had produced a sloppy bad pass in front of his own penalty area, which brought Tzolis into play. The fast attacker didn’t need to be asked twice and beat HSV keeper Matheo Raab with a low shot from 16 meters to make it 2-0 (63′).
Distance to the tip shortened
This meant the game was decided, and the hosts presented themselves confidently and defensively strong enough in the remaining half hour to not give HSV a single real chance to score. This means that the Fortunes have now actually moved within one point of HSV.
“HSV was a big challenge for us today, they have very good offensive forces. But my boys defended very well today. And they deserve real applause for that,” said Fortuna coach Thioune after the game. “I have not yet been able to solve the problems that existed in the team before I took office,” said his counterpart Steffen Baumgart. He believes: “We will only be able to do this with hard work together.”
Next matchday it will be Fortuna’s turn again on Fridays. Then we go to bottom team VfL Osnabrück. The home game against SV Wehen Wiesbaden is scheduled for HSV on Sunday.