HSV earn priceless win over Schalke
Relegation-threatened Hamburger SV earned three precious points to round off the year after recording a 2-1 victory at home to FC Schalke 04.
Hamburger SV 2-1 FC Schalke 04
Goals: 1-0 Müller (60'), 2-0 Wood (82'), 2-1 Avdijaj (90')
Want more Bundesliga Action?
How did this game affect your Official Fantasy Bundesliga team? Find out here!
Both of these sides were in desperate need of points at the Volksparkstadion, but the chances were at a premium in the first half. Yevhen Konoplyanka, who rescued a point for Schalke with an equaliser against SC Freiburg on Saturday, came closest to opening the scoring early on. However, after making an interception and racing into the Hamburg penalty area, the Ukrainian fired wide under pressure and the two teams went in goalless at the break.
Check out the all-new Official Bundesliga Facebook page!
It remained finely-poised until Nicolai Müller gave Hamburg the lead on the hour mark. Arcing his run to avoid the offside trap, the 29-year-old latched onto a through ball from Filip Kostic and fired past Ralf Fährmann for 1-0. Bobby Wood replaced Luca Waldschmidt just before that goal, and the American added a second for the hosts with eight minutes left on the clock. There was time for Donis Avdijaj to grab a late consolation for Schalke – the 20-year-old volleying in his first Bundesliga goal – but Hamburg held on to make it three wins in their last four league outings.