The US author Randall Munroe has achieved international fame, among other things, because he has provided “scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions”. In the meantime he has published two books, which start with the brief inquiry “What if?” in the title and in the German version with the subtitle: “What if?” are provided. A question was missing, which never seemed so absurdly hypothetical as on Monday evening. It read: “What if HSV were to be promoted back to the Bundesliga?”
The question of a possible promotion of HSV seemed so adventurous on Monday because it was the second leg of the relegation – and the Hamburgers had lost 0: 3 at VfB Stuttgart on Thursday. They also lost 3-1 on Monday after an early lead. The Swabians, who ended the past season in 16th place in the table, will also be in the Bundesliga next season.
Even before the game started, it was clear: It wouldn’t be at the Volksparkstadion. It had filled with believers who sounded more believers in miracles than any group of pilgrims heading to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. What they saw was exactly what they had prayed for: an early goal. After Stuttgart’s substitute goalkeeper Florian Müller revealed weaknesses in a direct free kick from Jean-Luc Dompé, Sony Kittel tried a right-footed shot from 18 meters just 120 seconds later – and scored the lead. The ball bounced off the inside post and into the goal (6th minute of the game).
The quick and, above all, artful equalization in Stuttgart doesn’t count
The fact that Chris Führich almost equalized immediately afterwards, but put the ball past the left post, was almost lost in the ongoing ecstasy. Not that Stuttgart’s center forward Serhou Guirassy revealed the latent instability of the HSV defence: He was passed to the six-yard box and caressed the ball with an art kick into the net because his back was to the goal. Alone: Video referee Felix Zwayer moved and reported. The first pass was ruled offside. Guirassy’s work, suspected of being a state gallery, was annulled.
VfB had massive difficulties creating what would have served their interests: peace in the game. It didn’t help that keeper Müller seemed more embarrassed than a high school graduate visiting the Reeperbahn. Every flank made him blush. And not that there was no tamer for dompé at VfB. And yet, there weren’t any real chances until the end of the first half. A shot by Robert Glatzel from 18 meters went wide of the goal; Müller parried a header from Bakery Jatta.
Two Millot goals turn the game in favor of VfB – Hamburg’s goalkeeper helps
Then it was half time, and shortly after that the mood was gone. Because the Stuttgarter came out of the cabin far less shy – and the first attack sat. A deep pass allowed Guirassy to get behind the Hamburg defense and put the ball across to Enzo Millot. A wink later, Millot maneuvered the ball into the goal from six yards (48′). The goal meant that Hamburg’s gap to the Bundesliga had increased to three goals again. And that changed the state of mind of both teams massively.
The Stuttgarters suddenly radiated security, the Hamburgers were lost in thought. Nobody represented that more than goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, who wanted to continue a back pass from Moritz Heyer in the penalty area – but apparently wondered whether Hamburger SV had Sisyphos’s DNA in them. The character from Greek mythology was doomed to roll a boulder up a steep slope; However, the stone always slipped away from Sisyphus shortly before reaching the summit and he had to start all over again. In any case, goalkeeper Heuer Fernandes missed the ball and only felt air resistance on the instep. That was unfortunate: Millot ran past and put the ball into the net to make it 2-1 for VfB (64′).
Fantastic HSV fans drive their team – and in the end bow their heads
Frustrated, HSV coach Tim Walter sat down on the bench and froze, as if he were sitting as a model for a new picture of Captain Iglo. Sonny Kittel was frustrated too, he took it to the outside. Because the Stuttgarters ostentatiously displayed their joy at the goal – which, according to human judgement, was decisive and secured the Bundesliga – in front of the Hamburg fan curve, he rushed ahead and with a few jostling triggered a pack formation that would have done any match day in Uruguay credit. Referee Bastian Dankert left it at four warnings.
The rest of the event was almost pathetic. Driven by the most fanatical of its fans in the north curve, HSV fought to at least nourish the illusion of hope. Glatzel came close to scoring again. But his shot went wide to the left of the goal (74′). In the end, substitute Silas dribbled through half of HSV’s defense and made it 3-1 (90’+7′). This happened at a time when most of the visitors to the Volkspark Stadium had already lowered their heads. Because it was too obvious that HSV, like last year, had failed with Walter in the relegation. And will also play in the second division for the sixth year in a row.
