Heartbreak on the Elbe: Hoffenheim piped to the punch by Hamburg

"The team playing at such a high level is a fantastic thing for me", exclaimed Rangnick referring to his team's performances so far this season. However, 1899 had to handle the untimely loss of number 1 keeper Tom Starke, who suffered a slight tear in his abdomen and is likely to miss more than just one match. That meant a return for Daniel Haas in goal with Vorsah, Compper, Beck and Luiz Gustavo playing just in front of him. Sejad Salihovic started having missed the previous match due to suspension and was joined by Sebastian Rud and Tobias Weis in the middle of the park. The attacking responsabilities were left to the three-pronged attack of Demba Ba, Peniel Mlapa and Chinedu Obasi.

Dream start for Hoffenheim

It didn't take long for Hoffenheim to make their mark on the match. Their very first attack saw Peniel Mlapa feed Demba Ba inside the penalty box, only for the Senegalese striker to be brought down unceremoniously before he got his shot off. Referee Günter Perl had no choice but to point to the spot - penalty for Hoffenheim. Salihovic stepped up and converted comfortably providing 1899 with the ideal start away from home with the goal putting pressure on the hosts to come at them for the rest of the match. Piotr Trochowski was keen to test Daniel Haas and did so twice from range, but Hoffenheim kept tight at the back and weren't allowing Hamburg any room to operate within.

The men from Kraichgau had a hairy moment in the 18th minute when a long ball fell at the feet of Paolo Guerrero. Hass sprinted off his line and didn't quite get his attempt to take the ball right, but Guerrero without an opposing player in front him only managed to hit the post with his effort. Then it was Rudy's turn to have a shot, testing Jarolsav Drobny with a difficult volley. Chances were not flowing freely in this match and as half time drew closer the game got scrappier. It saw Hoffenheim sit back a little more, while their opponents were struggling to create anything of noteworthiness. Then out of next to nothing Heiko Westermann woke everyone in the stadium up by scoring just before the break. After good work by Mladen Petric the HSV captain scored the equaliser, finally giving the home fans something to cheer about and dealing a hammer blow to Hoffenheim as the teams went into the dressing rooms.

Hamburg turn the screw

The home side came out raring to go in the second half and Piotr Trochowski almost scored within seconds, but his curling effort drifted just wide of the far post. The hosts were determined to take the three points. Then in the 50th minute Petric couldn't make the most of his free kick opportunity, only succeeding in hitting the wall. As Hoffenheim tried to battle back Demba Ba had two wonderful opportunities, hitting the first straight at Drobny and striking the crossbar with the second. It was the home side who were making waves though, as dead ball situations, Petric, Trochowski and Zé Roberto all posed problems for Haas in between the sticks, while Hoffenheim dropped deeper and attempted to score on the counter.

Croatian Mladen Petric had two fantastic opportunities to kill the match off but couldn't stretch far enough for the first and his second effort flew just over the bar. Then in the 83rd minute, it was a case of third time lucky for the centre forward, as he latched onto the end of Zé Roberto's cross and headed past Daniel Haas to win the match for HSV in the closing stages.

 

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