Both Vincenco Grifo and Philipp Lienhart featured from the off for SC after neither started the previous competitive fixture in Wolfsburg. Hamburg had travelled away from wintry conditions in their own city and the opening phase of the match similarly lacked heat. The visitors are yet to secure a win on the road since their top-flight return but looked to press their hosts high early on. SC reacted by remaining patient and received their first chance on 10 minutes, when Lukas Kübler rattled the crossbar from a narrow angle.

Maximilian Eggestein, who was making his 300th Bundesliga appearance, then had a headed opportunity as he latched onto the end of a Grifo free kick. Two minutes later, Yuito Suzuki tried his luck with a low, long-range effort. The home side had racked up a significantly higher tally for chances after the opening quarter of an hour and, despite an early attacking push from HSV, Freiburg had the better of possession, too.

“I am very satisfied with how the opening half hour went. We created three good chances but would have helped ourselves out somewhat if we had rewarded that by taking one”, said Schuster later on.

HSV push for the opener

After direct link-up play between Matthias Ginter and Philipp Treu, Lucas Höler found himself with a chance to shoot but did so straight at HSV stopper Daniel Heuer Fernandes before again just three minutes later, when the keeper clawed the ball off the line. SC were on top and their 70% possession went to show just that; however, during the closing stages of the first period, they were put under pressure by their visitors as HSV pressed forward.

After Philipp Lienhart lost the ball in the left-back position, the away team moved the ball quickly to play Damion Downs in on goal, who was just beaten to it by Noah Atubolu in a one-on-one race (38’). Nicolai Remberg then spurned the next chance on the counter for Hamburg, finding only the side netting. Atubolu subsequently turned a Fabio Vieria free kick around the post (44’). “The opening half hour was positive but then HSV upped the ante,” reported Grifo after full-time.

Jam-packed start to the second half

Just two minutes had been played following the restart when HSV gave their fans reason to celebrate. After finishing the opening period well, they began the second even better as Luka Vuskovic headed the ball just over the line despite Höler’s best efforts, almost clearing in time. 1-0 to Hamburg, but not for long. Daniel Elfadli, already booked, brought down Höler in the box, leading to referee Timo Gerach pointing to the spot and brandishing a second yellow card for Elfadli. HSV disagreed with the decision, but discussions on the pitch with the official did nothing to dissuade him. After Grifo converted, Freiburg were back level with a player advantage.

Super sub wins it for the hosts

The game somewhat died down again following that turbulent phase which followed the half-time break, mirroring the pattern of play seen in the opening 30 minutes of the game. Down to ten, Hamburg sat back, deep in their own half. SC remained patient once again, although at the expense of some pace in their attacking play. Kübler received the first promising opportunity since the equaliser, trying a header on 76 minutes. Freiburg were very much in control of proceedings, operating in their opponent’s half albeit without posing any real threat. However, all it would take to go ahead was for just one of the rare moments in front of goal to go the way of SC and that is eventually what happened.

In the 83rd minute at the Europa-Park Stadion, the SC fans witnessed a moment they had already experienced in the previous home match against Borussia Dortmund. Igor Matanovic was once again subbed on the 66th minute and once again latched onto the end of a Niklas Beste cross inside the box to sweep home for 2-1 – just as he did when facing BVB. However, the crucial difference this time around was that he was not mere centimetres offside, and the goal stood.

HSV were encouraged when the fourth official’s board went up to show that 11 minutes of stoppage time were still to be played, and they managed to threaten a leveller. Ransford Königsdorffer tested Atubolu from range, but SC rode out the remaining minutes comfortably camped in their own half.

Schuster analysed the course of proceedings: “After a good opening half hour from us, Hamburg got into the game, and we conceded a frustrating goal but then showed again that we don’t let our heads drop when we fall behind. Hamburg made it very difficult for us, even when a player down, and there were a lot of stoppages. We waited for our moment to arrive, though, and completed the turnaround. We need the lads on the bench to be at it, as well, which we saw again today. Beginning the year with three points is important and makes for a nice feeling”.

After registering their 11th straight unbeaten game at home, SC will next play two consecutive away fixtures. Freiburg round out the first half of the season with a trip to Leipzig on Wednesday before visiting Augsburg next Sunday.

Photo: SC Freiburg