Hamburg's clock keeps ticking after dramatic Karlsruhe win
Karlsruhe - Hamburger SV saved their Bundesliga status by the skin of their teeth, beating Karlsruher SC 2-1 after extra-time to remain the only club to have been in Germany's top division since its inception in 1963.
Hamburg hunt for a goal
Substitute Reinhold Yabo gave the hosts the lead, but a last-gasp Marcelo Diaz free-kick earned HSV a stay of execution. They took full advantage of their extra-time bonus with Nicolai Müller netting the goal which kept the Red Shorts in the top flight, and broke Karlsruhe's hearts.
Having been held to a 1-1 draw at home and needing at least one goal to have any chance of staying up, Hamburg could not just sit back at the Wildparkstadion, so it was little surprise that within the first ten minutes, they had already taken six shots on Dirk Orlishausen's goal. That was more than in the same section of any of their away games in the Bundesliga this season, but apart from one Ivica Olic effort, the Karlsruhe No.1 was never really tested.
Much of the play continued to take place in the Karlsruhe half with the home side defending well and waiting patiently for the opportunity to break. Each time they did, the crowd urged them forward, but there seemed a lack of conviction in their runs forward and concern about getting caught short at the back.
Possession, but no penetration
Hiroki Yamada gave Rene Adler his first touch of the ball in the 28th minute, but it was an easy save for the HSV keeper. Bruno Labbadia's men kept the ball in enemy territory but largely continued to struggle to do anything threatening with it. Rafael van der Vaart was getting particularly involved in his final game for Hamburg and his shot which deflected over early in the second half was an indication that the northerners were intending to keep up the pressure to get that goal.
Karlsruhe's response was to increase their own attacking efforts, however, and they had two big chances in 30 seconds with Enrico Valentini's cross touched just wide by Daniel Gordon at the far post. Dimitrij Nazarov stung Adler's palms before Diaz made a goal-line clearance to keep Manuel Gulde's header out.
Late drama and perfect timing
There were enough warnings there, and they were followed by the opening goal with a delightful chip from Rouwen Hennings setting up Yabo to volley Karlsruhe in front. Hamburg had just over ten minutes to save their status with a goal and Pierre-Michel Lasogga led their charge, nodding against the post with Dennis Diekmeier making a complete hash of the rebound from close range. Johan Djourou had a header cleared off the line by Gulde as Karlrsruhe packed men in at the back.
They made it through to 90 minutes, but in the first minute of stoppage time their resistance was broken. Diaz curled in Hamburg's first goal from a direct free-kick all season, timing his first goal for the club to perfection to force extra-time. Müller could hardly have timed his second of the season any better as he tucked Cleber's cross in from close range with only five minutes of the season remaining to preserve HSV's proud top-flight status, while Hennings saw a late penalty saved before tears of joy and sadness started to flow.
