Despite a 0-2 deficit, VfB Stuttgart won their home game against the Hamburg sports club. The fans saw two completely different halves in front of the devices.
Photo series with 21 pictures
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Emotional comeback victory instead of the next low blow: VfB Stuttgart has snatched a safe three from Hamburg SV in a direct duel between the candidates for promotion. The team of coach Pellegrino Matarazzo fought hard for a 3: 2 (0: 2) success on Thursday evening after a very weak first half and pushed past the Hanseatic League to direct promotion rank two. Arminia Bielefeld is the sovereign leader.
Stuttgart desolate until the break
Joel Pohjanpalo headed HSV under coach Dieter Hecking in the 16th minute. Aaron Hunt increased by penalty (45. + 2). Wataru Endo then breathed life into the hosts shortly after the restart (47.), Nicolas Gonzalez scored with a penalty kick to compensate (60.). Gonzalo Castro scored the winning goal in added time (90. + 2).
Stuttgart coach Matarazzo, to whom the club management had sent a clear signal of trust by extending the contract until 2022 on Wednesday, cheered for the first success after the Corona break. The HSV, on the other hand, suffered their first bankruptcy since the restart and felt the hot breath of FC Heidenheim on the neck at the relegation site.
VfB in particular was under pressure before the kick-off to end the weak phase of the past few days. Matarazzo had announced “extremely much fire” in the game, but at first nothing was to be seen. The HSV got off to a better start, looked more structured and more dangerous.
After the equalization: VfB stays on the trigger
Pohjanpalo came back from a good position shortly after his goal (19), VfB did not put Hamburg keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes in danger with a shot from Silas Wamangituka (25) and a harmless header from Gonzalez (26). The first half in no way met the high standards of the Stuttgart.
The connection goal was obviously good for Matarazo’s team, the home team pressed higher and thus presented the North Germans with much bigger problems. After the equalization, VfB remained on the trigger, the HSV temporarily looked for its defensive order. The visitors were lucky in the 89th minute when Stuttgart’s Pascal Stenzel only hit the post after a free kick, but then Castro struck.
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