When Hamburger SV was on the verge of having to return home with a disappointing draw in Karlsruhe on Monday evening, Simon Terodde struck cold. His winning goal in the 82nd minute raised the mood – and at the same time the prospect of an exuberant bus ride home.
Inimitable: Simon Terodde writhes around opponent Robin Bormuth and hits the late winning goal for HSV.
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The scene eight minutes before the end was symbolic of a Terodde goal, a goal in the best center forward fashion. The 32-year-old veteran lurked in the opponent’s penalty area at the five-meter limit, made some space with a slight push against Robin Bormuth and was then spot on. When teammate Sonny Kittel crossed from the right into the center, Terodde twisted his right leg around Bormuth and somehow pushed the ball into the net from five meters with his extended leg.
Terodde called for “more balls in the box”
“Today one goal is enough to achieve a well-deserved victory,” said the best-placed scorer beaming a few minutes later at the “Sky” microphone, referring to the last two games, in which he had scored twice. “I said we had to put more balls in the box, it’s always difficult to defend,” said the 14-time goalscorer of the current season. Said and done. Thanks to Kittel’s flank, the clippers did not go away empty-handed in Karlsruhe either.
After a goal hit in the 20th minute, you hadn’t seen so much of him for a long time. But Terodde was waiting for his chance. “I don’t let myself be unsettled if I don’t see a ball for five minutes,” he said, referring to his task of binding the opposing defenders with just his presence.
Before that, HSV missed a number of opportunities
The fact that it took so long before HSV turned onto the winning road was “thanks” to the inadequate exploitation of opportunities up to that point. Because especially in the first half, HSV left a wealth of good opportunities unused. After Bakery Jatta’s lead (Terodde: “You couldn’t stop him today”), Jeremy Dudziak (6th), Terodde himself (20th) and Khaled Narey (26th) could have scored more goals if not had to. “At half-time we said we had to do another one,” said Terodde succinctly, who ultimately took over the job himself.
With his goal, the Torgarant not only gave his team the third win in a row and the jump to second place in the table, but above all a conciliatory end of the year. Terodde’s statements gave an idea of how much such a sense of achievement can fire the mood within the team. “I’m extremely proud of the team. It is not natural that you create so many chances. A 2-1 in the 82nd minute is three times better than a 4-0 away win.” And with regard to the long bus trip back to the north: “Now a beer or two will certainly be opened.”
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