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Mahdavikia brings HSV level
HSV - Coach Toppmöller made three changes to the side which drew 0-0 in Freiburg, for the final Bundesliga match of the season in front of 52,000 in the AOL Arena this afternoon. Hollerbach came into the side for the suspended Fukal, Romeo for Takahara and Rudolfo Cardoso was allowed to play his last ever Bundesliga game from the start, meaning that David Jarolim was relegated to the bench. Frankfurt coach Reimann stuck with the side which gave the club hope of staying in the Bundesliga by beating high-flying Bochum 3-2 last time out.
Hermann steals the show
Before a ball was kicked HSV said goodbye to no less than six players. Hoogma, Cardoso, Hollerbach, Fukal, Maltritz and Starkeall said their goodbyes and were given a bunch of flowers by the club. There was however, someone who stole that show. HSV's legendary masseur Hermann Rieger is leaving the club after 26 years. The cult masseur was given a rousing sending off by the huge crowd present.
Game on
The sums were very simple for this match. HSV had secured a place in the Intertoto Cup by finishing in 8th place, Frankfurt supported by around 10,000 travelling fans, had to win to have any chance of staying in the Bundesliga. As expected, the visitors started in a perky manner. On 14 minutes Frankfurt should have taken the lead as Frommer found himself one on one with keeper Wächter. HSV's shot-stopper kept his cool and parried the shot away. Four minutes later Bernardo Romeo tried a low shot from the edge of the area which the superb Pröll saved comfortably.
Frankfurt go ahead
After 26 minutes the visitors took the lead. A fine pass by Skela found Amanatidis on the blind side of the HSV defence. Wächter had no chance this time as Amanatidis blasted a shot between the keeper's legs and into the net. The celebrations of the huge travelling contingent had hardly died down before HSV were level. Sloppy defending by frankfurt allowed Romeo a shot from just inside the area. That shot was deflected by Chris into the path of
Mehdi Mahdavikia lurking at the far post. The Iranian international had no trouble pushing the ball home from close range for the HSV equaliser. Two speculative shots by first Skela (41.) and then Preuß (45.) were the only other noteworthy points before the half time break.
Taka hits a post...Sergej mops up!
Pröll between the Frankfurt posts was their best player, foiling HSV time and time again. On 57 minutes he was powerless to stop the home side take the lead. Frankfurt lost possession going forward, giving HSV the chance to counter attack. Good combination play was rounded off by a Takahara shot which was deflected onto the crossbar. Sergej Barbarez was in the right place at the right time to blast the ball high into the net from five yards out. The Bosnian striker showed no emotion as the ball hit the back of the net, probably his way of answering the stinging criticism of the home fans from the last home game against Stuttgart (2-1).
Bye bye Frankfurt
HSV had their tails up after going ahead and never let the visitors back into the game. Frankfurt seemed resigned to their fate and had very little resistance to offer after the strike by Barbarez. They now go down to the second division along with 1860 Munich who went down 1-3 in Gladbach.
Match details:
HSV: Wächter - Wicky, Hoogma, Ujfalusi, Hollerbach - Schlicke - Mahdavikia, Cardoso, Beinlich - Barbarez - Romeo
Eintracht Frankfurt: Pröll - Bindewald, Puljiz, Chris, Bürger - Schur - Preuß - Lexa, Skela - Frommer, Amanatidis
Goals: 0:1 Amanatidis, 1:1 Mahdavikia, 2:1 Barbarez
Referee: Kircher
Att: 52854
Yellow cards: Hollerbach, Barbarez, Schlicke |
