HSV achieved an important victory in terms of promotion in the 2nd Bundesliga against Schalke 04 – with the active help of Schalke’s defense. The Royal Blues were unlucky with three aluminum hits.
In front of a Bundesliga-worthy backdrop of around 62,000 spectators, a highly effective Hamburger SV won the top second division game at Schalke 2-0 (2-0) on Saturday evening (January 20th, 2024). Immanuël Pherai (22nd minute) gave the Hanseatic League the lead, László Bénes (35th) ensured the final score.
With the win, HSV moved within one point of Holstein Kiel, second in the table. Schalke remains in acute danger of relegation, just three points away from the critical places.
The 5:3 for HSV in the first leg naturally raised hopes of another football spectacle on Saturday evening. And both teams were offensive from the start. Tobias Mohr (4th) fired a first dangerous warning shot from the backcourt, HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes made a strong save.
Eight minutes later the game had to be interrupted for three minutes because of hamburgers fans in protest against a possible DFL investordeal Tennis balls and chocolate coins were thrown onto the field.
Schalke’s defense in a deep sleep
Hamburg shocked the hosts with their first dangerous attack. A precise cross from Ignace Van Der Brempt from the right into the center of the penalty area was headed by Pherai from the five-pointer into the Schalke goal, completely unchallenged – there was no assignment in the Gelsenkirchen defense.
Bar cracker from Ouwejan
But Royal Blue fought back: Simon Terodde (27th) put a flying header into the arms of Heuer Fernandes. Thomas Ouwejan (33rd) hit a free kick from 25 meters onto the crossbar, Heuer Fernandes would never have saved it. But then Schalke’s defense was out of the picture again. Jean-Luc Dompe Crossed from the left into the center of the penalty area, Bénes finished with a header from twelve meters. That too was far too easy, Schalke’s defensive problems – the third worst defense in the league – were brutally punished.
Royal blue with a lot of will, but always vulnerable at the back
Schalke came out of the dressing room with anger and a lot of determination and tried to turn the game around. Paul Seguin (47th) fed Terodde to the right in the penalty area, but the striker chased the ball well over the goal. Shortly afterwards, Hamburg cleared a strong shot from substitute Ron Schallenberg for a corner.
However, Hamburg’s switching game remained strong and a counterattack almost brought about the early decision. Bakery Jatta (54th) was sent steeply, played the Schalke defense dizzy and set up Bénes in the penalty area, whose shot from eleven meters Tomas Kalas headed off the line.
Schallenberg (62nd) missed a great chance to score the next goal when he shot from 18 meters with a lot Effet just next to the right post of the HSV goal. Schalke didn’t let themselves down, but lacked coolness in front of the Hamburg goal.
Schalke only hits aluminum
At times Schalke were just centimeters away from success. A volley from the unlucky Ouwejan (74′) from a tight angle on the left hit the far post; it was his second goal from the net. Schalke continued to press, the morale was there, but the Hamburg goal seemed to be nailed down and remained so until the end because Bryan Lasme (90th + 5) also only hit the woodwork.
S04 on the Betzenberg, HSV against KSC
The Royal Blues are in action against Kaiserslautern at the start of the 19th matchday (Friday, January 26th, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.). Hamburg will face Karlsruhe two days later (1:30 p.m.).