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Robert Glatzel scored twice
Photo: IMAGO/KBS-Picture Kalle Meincke / IMAGO/KBS-Picture
With the fourth win in a row in the 2nd Bundesliga, Hamburger SV has earned a good starting position to fight for promotion, at least in the relegation.
HSV, who were far behind just a few weeks ago, won 2-1 (2-1) in the north duel against Hannover 96 thanks to two goals from center forward Robert Glatzel (13th minute/20th minute). Only Sebastian Kerk was successful for the guests (23rd).
Hamburg benefited from the defeat of the direct competitor Darmstadt 98, who lost to Fortuna Düsseldorf the night before.
Coach Tim Walter's team has it in their own hands to end the season in one of the top three places in the table - until at least early Sunday afternoon, HSV is even in second place.
The first fireworks of the game were set off by the Hanover fans in the guest block, the kick-off was five minutes late due to the smoke.
The game itself was then to be even more spectacular: Anssi Suhonen with a sharp volley shot directly at 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler had the first good chance for Hamburger SV (3rd), Hendrik Weydandt missed the big chance for Hannover on the other side when Daniel Heuer Fernandes deflected his shot to the crossbar (5th).
It continued at the same pace: Zieler saved against Kittel (7'), the corner that followed slipped through to Sebastian Schonlau, who just missed the goal (8').
Then Weydandt was the focus again, who after HSV lost the ball while building up ran from the center line towards the goal, but was unable to get the ball past Heuer Fernandes, who reacted well again (12').
In the 13th minute, Hamburg sat down for the first time in second place in the Blitz table: a low cross from Bakery Jatta pushed Glatzel over the line in the centre.
The same combination made it 2-0 a little later: Jatta got control of a nice volley from Ludovit Reis in the penalty area and lobbed the far post, where Glatzel pushed the ball over the line with his upper body (20').
Still, Hamburg couldn't carry a real cushion through the game, Hannover succeeded in the direct answer: Kerk first tunneled Meffert, then the 96 top scorer flicked the ball into the corner to connect (22nd).
Reis just missed the opportunity to restore the old gap with a shot at the outside of the post (28').
Exciting table constellation
After the furious initial phase, the game flattened out significantly.
Jatta (66th) and substitutes Mikkel Kaufmann (76th) and Faride Alidou, who missed the empty goal (88th), had chances for more HSV goals after the break, but they were neither scored nor needed.
With 57 points, Hamburger SV are now level on points with SV Werder Bremen and Darmstadt 98, but have the best goal difference of the three clubs and are in second place for the moment.
However, Bremen will not play at Erzgebirge Aue until Sunday (1.30 p.m.) and can overtake them again with a win or draw.
More games:
Jahn Regensburg – 1. FC Heidenheim: 0: 2 (0: 0)
FC Ingolstadt – Hansa Rostock: 0-0
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