Steffen Baumgart won his first game as HSV coach. A goal from Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer was enough for the Hanseatic League to win against SV Elversberg.
Moved to second place: Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer and HSV. IMAGO/Lobeca
Hamburg’s new coach Steffen Baumgart started his debut with three changes compared to the 2-2 draw in Rostock: While Raab remained in goal, captain Schonlau returned to the starting line-up after an injury break to replace the injured Ambrosius and formed the team with Hadzikadunic in the absence of the suspended Ramos Interior defense. Königsdörffer also started for the ailing Dompé and drew attention to himself after just a few minutes when he was denied by Kristof, who then parried Pherai’s direct shot (5th).
Opportunities remain unused on both sides
Horst Steffen and his team were faced with a new dynamic in the HSV game and more intense pressing than in the 3-1 win against Osnabrück, especially in the early stages. Only after another moment of shock due to a Glatzel header (7th) did the guests get better into the game and shortly after the next Königsdörffer chance (31st) they had their first opportunity through Sicker, who was called up for Neubauer. However, the left-back couldn’t get past Jatta and Hadzikadunic before Wanner (41′) and Sahin (44′) missed SVE’s best chances in the first half and sealed the goalless first half.
After the break, the Rothosen once again came out of the starting blocks better. Pherai’s finish was still harmless (49′), but Königsdörffer’s third promising attempt could no longer be defused by Kristof (53′). The Hanseatic League’s most striking offensive player almost followed up with a brace, but in the 60th minute he clearly missed under pressure.
Königsdörffer shoots HSV to victory
2nd Bundesliga, 23rd matchday
Nevertheless, the scene was evidence of the fact that the Hanseatic League kept up the pressure even after taking the lead, while the SVE struggled to create chances to equalize. For a long time, Schnellbacher’s header, which clearly missed the box, was the most notable approach to goal by Elversberg, but they turned it up again in the final minutes. So Stocker had a free kick opportunity (82′), before Raab ironed out a wobble before a corner with an action against Vandermersch, who had a great chance to equalize out of nowhere, but may have been offside (88′).
So things threatened to get tight again in the five minutes of stoppage time. Especially since Steffen Baumgart’s men missed some good transition moments. First Pherai (90th+1) and then Nemeth (90th+4) missed the final decision, which, however, was no longer necessary. The debut of the new HSV coach was also a success.
Thanks to the success, HSV moved within one point of second-placed Kiel and will play at home again next Sunday, then against bottom team Osnabrück (1.30 p.m.). Elversberg, which remains in the no-man’s land of the table, welcomes Wehen Wiesbaden an der Kaiserlinde at the same time.