Hamburger SV have secured a crucial three points towards maintaining their Bundesliga status, winning 2-1 at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on matchday 31. A second consecutive victory for HSV moves them out of the relegation zone and into 14th place. However, they remain just one point clear of a direct relegation spot. Mainz tasted defeat again after recently securing back-to-back wins and stay in tenth place with 37 points to their name.
The 05ers controlled the game in the opening half an hour but failed to produce any real danger. The home side were then left stunned when Elkin Soto suffered a horrific injury and Julian Baumgartlinger deflected a cross from Heiko Westermann into his own net, all within the space of four minutes.
Kacar on target for HSV
Mainz continued to push forward, but lacked firepower up front, while Hamburg were content to defend their slim lead, sporadically creating dangerous moments on the counter. FSV cranked up the pressure midway through the second half, as an attempt from Ja-Cheol Koo hit the woodwork. A few minutes later, Yunus Malli converted from close range to level the scores.
The hosts were now pushing for a late winner, but instead it was Hamburg's Gojko Kacar who put the visitors back in front in the 87th minute with a curling, first-time shot into the bottom corner. Mainz finished the game with ten men, as Daniel Brosinski was sent off shortly before full time.
Hamburger SV have secured a crucial three points towards maintaining their Bundesliga status, winning 2-1 at 1. FSV Mainz 05 on matchday 31. A second consecutive victory for HSV moves them out of the relegation zone and into 14th place. However, they remain just one point clear of a direct relegation spot. Mainz tasted defeat again after recently securing back-to-back wins and stay in tenth place with 37 points to their name.
The 05ers controlled the game in the opening half an hour but failed to produce any real danger. The home side were then left stunned when Elkin Soto suffered a horrific injury and Julian Baumgartlinger deflected a cross from Heiko Westermann into his own net, all within the space of four minutes.
Kacar on target for HSV
Mainz continued to push forward, but lacked firepower up front, while Hamburg were content to defend their slim lead, sporadically creating dangerous moments on the counter. FSV cranked up the pressure midway through the second half, as an attempt from Ja-Cheol Koo hit the woodwork. A few minutes later, Yunus Malli converted from close range to level the scores.
The hosts were now pushing for a late winner, but instead it was Hamburg's Gojko Kacar who put the visitors back in front in the 87th minute with a curling, first-time shot into the bottom corner. Mainz finished the game with ten men, as Daniel Brosinski was sent off shortly before full time.
