3/18/2006
hsv.de

HSV goes marching on! On Saturday afternoon (18.3.06) they beat VfL Wolfsburg 1-0 in front of 28,095 in the Volkswagen Arena. The only goal of the game came on 22 minutes and fell to Benny Lauth. It was the young German striker’s third goal in as many games after he had scored against Lautern last weekend and Bucharest in midweek. HSV is now only 3 points behind Bayern (who play Schalke at home tomorrow) in the Bundesliga table.

de Jong returns from suspension
Home coach Klaus Augenthaler had to do without his top scorer Diego Klimowicz (adductor problem) for the visit of second placed HSV to the Volkswageb Arena in round 26. The Argentinean was on the bench as the game started. Augenthaler kept faith with the side which drew 0-0 at home to Bayern last time out. HSV coach Thomas Doll made two changes to his side which went out of the UEFA Cup against Bucharest in midweek despite winning 3-1. In came Nigel de Jong for Wicky after suspension. Doll moved Mehdi Mahdavikia back to full back with Piotr Trochowski moving into the vacant spot in midfield.

Early blow for Wolfsburg: Hanke off injured
The first few minutes of the game began at a sprightly pace and on six mintes the first chance of the match fell to Hans Sarpei who stole in at the far post where he met a superb ball played in by Menseguez. Sarpei who was unmarked, blasted wide as it looked easier to score. A few minutes later, the Germany striker Mike Hanke came off the worst in a challenge with van Buyten and Boulahrouz. Hanke was in obvious pain and was taken off after only 17 minutes with a bruised buttock muscle and bruising to his stomach muscles. Augenthaler replaced Hanke with the Frenchman Steve Marlet.

Lauth puts HSV ahead!
That shock seemed to make the home side lose the plot and on 20 minutes, de Jong tested Wolves keeper Simon Jentzsch. Two minutes later Benny Lauth one better, as he scored his third goal in as many games after being beautifully played through from near the halfway line by Barbarez. Lauth advanced into the left side of the Wolfsburg area before coolly slotting home a low left foot shot into the bottom right hand corner with Jentzch powerless. There followed further chances by van der Vaart and van Buyten, but the best missed chance of the half fell on the stroke of half time as Barbarez lobbed the advancing Jentzsch but his effort went well wide of goal. HSV took a deserved 1-0 lead with them into the break.

Harmless Wolves
HSV camped in their own from the start of the second half, letting the home side have the Lion’s share of possession and waiting for a chance to counter attack. Wolfsburg, although they had more of the ball, were unable to turn it into noteworthy goalmouth action. A 30 metre lond distance shot by Hoogendorp, which was easily dealt with by Hamburg’s new number one keeper Sasha Kirschstein was all that the home side had to offer 15 minutes after the break.

HSV adopt safety first tactic
25 minutes from the end, Doll brought on Wicky for van der Vaart, clearly indicating that he wanted his team to simply protect their slender lead. His Wolfsburg counterpart Augenthaler took off the invisible substitute Marlet and replaced him with Klimowicz. Marian Hristov made his first appearance for the Wolves for 15 months as he came on to replace Thiam. Those changes didn’t help the Wolfsburg cause and two late harmless long distance shots by Hoogendorp were all they could muster and they lost the game 0-1.

Only three points behind!
The victory keeps HSV in second place just two points behind Bayern, who take on third placed Schalke at home tomorrow. Werder Bremen did immense damage to their Champions League ambitions on Saturday by losing 1-3 away to Nürnberg. VfL Wolfsburg is now in 15th place in the Bundesliga table, just 3 points above the dreaded drop zone. They must travel to face Schalke next weekend, the only German team still in European competition. HSV faces Borussia Dortmund at home next weekendwithout their defender Atouba, who picked up a fifth yellow card in Wolfsburg and will be suspended for the match.

Match details:

VfL Wolfsburg: Jentzsch – Quiroga, Hofland, van der Heyden – van der Leegte – Menseguez, Karhan, Thiam, Sarpei – Hanke, Hoogendorp

HSV: Kirschstein – Mahdavikia, Boulahrouz, van Buyten, Atouba – de Jong – Jarolim, Trochowski – van der Vaart – Lauth, Barbarez

Goal: 0-1 Lauth (22.)

Referee: Dr. Brych

Attendance: 28,095

Yellow cards: van der Leegte, Quiroga, Hristov – Atouba