HSV Triumph in Thriller of a Derby

Last Friday’s Hamburg derby lived up to the hype, and sent comatose giants Hamburger SV closer to a return to the top flight. Second v fourth and with more than just local pride in Germany’s second city at stake, this was one not to be missed.

HSV had won only one of their previous five league games, leading fans to fear that the team would again “Do a Hamburg” and bottle their perceived assured promotion. Simultaneously affectionately and mockingly known as ‘The Dinosaur’ of German football, based on their previous permanence in the top flight, their 2018 first ever relegation had been preceded by several low finishes, including two seasons where they only stayed up thanks to a play-off victory. That a club of HSV’s size and budget has failed the last four attempts at escaping from a league containing Sandhausen and Jahn Regensburg is a subject of much amusement amongst German football fans.

St. Pauli meanwhile, are a classic second tier club; their social ethos and alternative identity have seemed not at home on the rare occasions they reached the Bundesliga. Nevertheless, the Kiezkicker are right in the mix; ten straight league victories in 2023 was interrupted by the previous round’s defeat to Braunschweig. With six points separating the teams, a win would likely derail a notoriously fragile HSV.

57,000 packed in to the Volksstadion amidst an inferno of flares and smoke bombs to witness the game of the season.

The guests started brightest, with English striker and former Bolton Wanderers colleague of our Eoin Doyle, Dapo Afolayan seeing his shot from just inside the box well saved.

Hamburg responded with winger Sonny Kittel shooting just wide across the goal.

Afolayan threatened again, negotiating a series of weak challenges and scoring from six yards. However, a high hanging hand to a HSV face resulted in the goal being disallowed.

Pauli continued to press; a cross from the left saw Lukas Daschner fluff his lines from six yards. HSV were riding their luck.

A deserved lead for the Braun-Weiss came on 36 minutes as HSV failed to clear, losing possession. Emmanouil Saliakis firing past the keeper at the near post.

HSV’s response came against the run of play. Hamburg native Jonas David on 44 min finding the top right corner from 20 yards. The Volksparkstadion erupts, and the goal theme music is provided by local heroes Scooter, with a HSV themed remix of ‘Always Hardcore’. Half time 1-1.

St Pauli would rue missed chances as they fell behind straight after the break. An in swinging cross bouncing past two unwilling defenders in brown, left Bakery Jatta with only a tap in beyond the keeper. 2-1 HSV.

4 minutes were enough to change the game, and on. Jackson Irvine’s header from a corner making it 4-3 and setting up a tense finale, but the Kiezkicker couldn’t find a way through and HSV held on amidst jubilant scenes from the home supporters.

Following a great save from a header, Moritz Heyer poked home the rebound to give the hosts a two goal cushion.

Pauli chased the game, with Conor Metcalfe firing just wide from outside the box, until on 71 minutes they pulled one back. Elias Saad seized a hopeful ball over the top, closed in on goal and held his nerves to slot underneath the keeper. 3-2.

Another big miss would follow for St. Pauli. Eric Schmidt with a free volley from 12 yards dragging it wide.

The game appeared to be over on 86 minutes; stopping an almost certain goal with a HSV striker lying in wait, Jakov Medić’s clearance flew past his own keeper and into the bottom corner. 4-2 to HSV.

With five games remaining, third place HSV have a seven point cushion on Paderborn below them. Faced with the prospect of a tricky two legged playoff against likely Schalke, Stuttgart or Bochum, Die Rothosen will be aiming to catch Heidenheim one point above them, in order to guarantee automatic promotion and end their five year exile from top flight football.