Hamburg on the verge of safety after vital win at Eintracht Frankfurt
Hamburg fought back from 1-0 down to win thanks to goals from Albert Grønbæk and Fábio Vieira to put themselves on the verge of retaining their Bundesliga status for next season.
Frankfurt 1-2 HamburgGoals: 1-0 Uzun 48’ (assist: Burkardt), 1-1 Grønbæk 51’ (assist: Omari), 1-2 Vieira 59’ (assist: Grønbæk)Red card: Kristensen 90’+12’
With Frankfurt chasing a European spot and Hamburg battling to preserve their top-flight status, Matchday 32 at Deutsche Bank Park had plenty at stake. The hosts, under head coach Albert Riera, had managed just one win from their previous five league outings, while HSV arrived winless in six Bundesliga games, having lost their last three. Head coach Merlin Polzin made just one change, with Albert Sambi Lokonga returning to the starting XI, whilst Riera brought in Ansgar Knauff and Jonathan Burkardt.
A cagey first half
The opening 45 minutes were tight and tactical. Nicolas Capaldo created the first real chance in the fifth minute, bursting into the box and crossing for Fábio Vieira, whose shot was blocked.
Frankfurt had the better of possession, but Hamburg looked dangerous on the counter. Sambi Lokonga's shot was parried by Michael Zetterer in the 26th minute, and moments later Vieira struck the crossbar with a powerful drive from outside the box.
Can Uzun was Frankfurt's most threatening outlet, forcing Daniel Heuer Fernandes into good saves in the 38th and 39th minutes, but the half ended goalless.
Uzun strikes, but Hamburg respond immediately
Frankfurt came out with more intent after the interval. In the 48th minute, Burkardt's pass was dummied for Uzun, who burst past the last defender and fired home with his right foot to give the hosts the lead.
Hamburg's response was immediate: just over two minutes later, Warmed Omari's cross from the left found Albert Grønbæk at the back post, who drilled the ball home for his first Bundesliga goal, with Ellyes Skhiri unable to clear on the line.
Vieira seals it for Hamburg
Hamburg took the lead in the 59th minute when Grønbæk chipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Vieira in the box. The Portuguese midfielder controlled the ball on his chest and finished with his left foot into the far corner in a moment of real quality.
Although Frankfurt threw players forward in search of an equaliser, they were unable to break through a resolute Hamburg defence.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts in the 12th minute of stoppage time when Rasmus Kristensen was then shown a second yellow card for a late challenge on Giorgi Gocholeishvili, reducing Frankfurt to ten men.
Man of the Match: Albert Grønbæk
Grønbæk was the decisive figure in Hamburg's victory. The Danish midfielder scored the equaliser in the 51st minute and then provided the perfectly weighted assist for Vieira's winner eight minutes later. He earned 47 per cent of the Man of the Match votes and topped the fantasy manager rankings with 312 points.
Bundesliga Match Facts
xGoals: Frankfurt 0.79 - Hamburg 0.68
Fastest player: Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (Frankfurt), 36.04 km/h
Lowest goal probability: 1-1 by Albert Grønbæk (Hamburg), 4 per cent
Most pressed player: Can Uzun (Frankfurt), 20 times under pressure
Pass efficiency: Can Uzun (Frankfurt), +2.79
Fantasy Heroes: Albert Grønbæk (Hamburg, 312 Points), Can Uzun (Frankfurt, 270 Points), Fábio Vieira (Hamburg, 245 Points)
