Hertha BSC celebrates after a dream goal
HSV delivers the next expensive slapstick performance
December 9, 2023, 3:10 p.m
Hamburger SV is making it difficult for itself in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga: Due to a major stumble, the North Germans lose an important home game after their own lead. Hertha BSC, on the other hand, turns a deficit into a win. Greuther Führt concedes a very bitter hit.
Hamburger SV – SC Paderborn 1:2 (1:1)
Hamburger SV suffered another setback in the promotion race of the 2nd Bundesliga and lost at home for the first time this season. Due to the deserved 1:2 (1:1) against SC Paderborn, coach Tim Walter’s team missed their eighth home win in a row. HSV only got four points from the last four league games.
Former HSV professional Filip Bilbija (21st) equalized the lead in front of 52,244 spectators thanks to a dream goal from Laszlo Benes (11th minute) for the Paderborn team. After a serious defensive error, the strong SCP attacker Ilyas Ansah took the lead (62nd). Shortly afterwards, goal scorer Bilbija received a red card for a hard start (69th), while on the other side Miro Muheim (78th) received a red card for an emergency stop.
Both teams delivered an even first half. Benes delighted the HSV crowd with his long-range shot from around 20 meters. The second half didn’t start to the home team’s liking. First, the strong central defender Stephan Ambrosius had to be replaced injured after almost 50 minutes. Then his replacement Dennis Hadzikadunic caused SCP’s second goal due to a strange slip: Ansah ran freely towards the HSV goal and just had to push in.
It was the second momentous slapstick act by an HSV professional within a few days: Last weekend, the back team around goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes produced one of the strangest own goals in the league’s history. In stoppage time, Bakery Jatta hit the crossbar with a long cross.
1. FC Kaiserslautern – Hertha BSC 1:2 (1:0)
Hertha BSC stopped cup quarter-finalists 1. FC Kaiserslautern and their new coach Dimitrios Grammozis in the 2nd Bundesliga. The capital city team came back from behind to win 2-1 (0-1) and are gradually moving closer to the top group. For Kaiserslautern, the negative trend in the league continues: It was already the fifth defeat in a row. On Tuesday, the Palatinate team advanced in the DFB Cup with a 2-0 win against Nuremberg
In front of 45,308 spectators, Florian Niederlechner (49th minute) and Marc Oliver Kempf (82nd) scored the goals for the guests. Almamy Touré (16th) initially gave FCK the lead. As a result, Kaiserslautern was the more active team and earned the narrow lead at halftime. The hosts’ lead didn’t last long after the restart. Niederlechner scored a remarkable overhead kick to equalize. FCK professional Affez Aremu, who came on as a substitute at half-time, was shown a red card after 60 minutes for serious foul play.
As a result, the Berliners only created a few great opportunities. Kaiserslautern’s goalkeeper Julian Krahl brilliantly parried a shot from Jonjoe Kenny. After the following corner he was powerless when Marc Oliver Kempf poked the ball over the line from close range to make it 1-2. The FCK pushed forward again, but they were no longer able to equalize.
Greuther Fürth – 1. FC Magdeburg 1:1 (0:0)
SpVgg Greuther Fürth gave away their impressive winning streak in the final seconds. The Franconians had to be content with a 1-1 (0-0) draw against 1. FC Magdeburg and missed their sixth league success in a row. After a first half of the game with many missed chances, Tim Lemperle scored Fürth’s celebrated opening goal after the break (59th). The hosts Magdeburg were too careless in allowing the score to equalize with their last attack – Mohammed El Hankouri made it 1-1 late on his comeback (90+5).
With a goal-scoring record of 12:3 before the break, the Fürth team failed to steer the game in their direction early in front of 10,796 spectators. The offensive around Branimir Hrgota, Armindo Sieb and Lemperle missed some of the best opportunities. Magdeburg’s Luc Castaignos almost punished that shortly before the half-time whistle by giving the visitors the lead.
The Franks did better after the break when Lemperle scored after a nice pass from Simon Asta to give the second youngest second division team the lead. On the other side, goalkeeper Jonas Urbig made two outstanding saves (61st/62nd). Almost with the final whistle, El Hankouri, who had returned from a torn muscle, shocked the team with a goal worth seeing. Urbig conceded his first league goal since mid-October. Before the game, Fürth’s honorary member Henry Kissinger was remembered during a minute’s silence. The Fürth native and former American Secretary of State died on November 30th at the age of 100.