5/2/2006
hsv.de

HSV beat Cologne 1-0 away in round 32 of the Bundesliga on Tuesday evening (02.05.06). What on paper may appear to have been easy was exactly the opposite. A huge capacity crowd of 57,000 in the Rhein Energie-Stadion saw the only goal of the game scored by Sergej Barbarez on 3 minutes. HSV played a cautious game and it was one-way traffic from then on, towards Sascha Kirschstein between the HSV posts.

Injury woes

HSV coach Thomas Doll was hardly spoilt for choice with regards to selection: Rafael van der Vaart, Nigel de Jong, Daniel van Buyten, David Jarolim, Raphael Wicky and Stefan Beinlich all missed the game in Cologne through injury. On top of that, Dolly thought he would be without Thimothee Atouba. The left back had a wisdom tooth removed during the week and was ruled out of the trip to Cologne as it became infected. Much to everyone’s surprise, Atouba turned up on match day, driven to Cologne by a friend and made the staring line-up. The home coach Hans-Peter Latour was without his suspended duo Öczalan Alpay and Albert Streit. Both picked up a fifth yellow card last time out

Barbarez gives HSV perfect start

HSV made the perfect start to the game and took the lead on 3 minutes after a wonderful move down the right: Guy Demel played a perfectly weighted ball into the path of Mehdi Mahdavikia, who in turn produced a fast low cross into the path of Sergej Barbarez who got to the ball before two Cologne defenders to poke the ball home from close range.

Close shave

HSV sat back and waited for Cologne to come at them which they did, while waiting for a chance to counter attack. Cologne mounted several attacks, but the HSV defence seemed to be always able to get either a head or a leg to the ball as the home side threatened. The most controversial moments of the first half happened as Khalid Boulahrouz received the ball on his arm twice (20. 23,) while inside the HSV penalty area, both times, the referee decided that the incidents were accidental. The home side continued to push forward but found no way through the best defence in the Bundesliga which also has the best away record as well.

Cologne on top, HSV win….

Cologne continued to take the game to HSV as the second half got underway, while the visiting side waited patiently for a chance to counter attack. The home side began to threaten as Podolski and Cullmann went close on 72 and 75 minutes respectively. The referee made a crucial decision 11 minutes from time as the Cologne substitute Springer appeared to equalise, only to be (rightly) ruled offside. Cologne continued their all out attack on the HSV goal.

All's well that ends well

On 82 minutes, Sascha Kirschstein did well to deny Helmes. Two minutes later Feulner headed just over. Three minutes from the end, the HSV substitute Naohiro Takahara somehow fired over while unmarked. The rest was HSV celebration and Cologne devastation. Cologne only has a mathematical chance of staying in the Bundesliga next season.

Match details:

HSV: Kirschstein – Klingbeil, Reinhardt, Boulahrouz, Atouba – Demel, Mahdavikia, Trochowski (85. Karl) – Barbarez – Ailton (77. Laas), Lauth (60. Takahara)

Cologne: Bade – Lell, Sinkiewicz, Cullmann (88. Szabic) – Matip (77. Springer) – Feulner, Cabanas, Epstein, Helmes – Podolski, Streller

Goals: 1-0 Barbarez (3.)

Attendance: 57,000 (Sold out)

Referee: Knut Kircher (Rottburg)

Yellow cards: Kirschstein Boulahrouz Feulner