Werkself triumph 1-0 in rearranged match at Hamburg

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand made five changes to his line-up from the 1-1 draw against 1. FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Montrell Culbreath replaced the injured Arthur for his first senior start, while Aleix Garcia and Ibrahim Maza came in for Ezequiel Fernández und Jonas Hofmann. In attack, Martin Terrier and Christian Kofane started in place of Ernest Poku and Patrik Schick, the latter missing out because of a muscular issue.

chances but no goals for dominant visitors

Right from kick-off, the Werkself took command and created a number of early opportunities. Culbreath had the first opening from Maza's cross from the left, but the debutant glanced his header wide (7'). Six minutes later, Terrier directed a cross from Garcia goalbound with a first-time volley, which struck the upright. In the next attack, Maza was brought down in the box and referee Sören Storks awarded a penalty, but the decision was reversed following a VAR review as the offence occurred just outside the penalty area. The Werkself kept up the energy in the period that followed, pressing high and frequently winning the ball as a result.

The game was now being played almost exclusively in the Hamburg half, but Leverkusen were still unable to make the breakthrough despite further chances such as Maza's in the 30th minute. HSV, on the other hand, didn't register a single shot at Janis Blaswich's goal in the first half, which finished goalless.

Kofane rewards attacking efforts

Leverkusen continued to dictate proceedings after the break and soon threatened again - this time with a header from Edmond Tapsoba at the far post from an Alejandro Grimaldo cross (54'). Tapsoba did then put the ball in the net at the second attempt from a corner, but had used his hand to do so. Bayer 04 didn't lose heart and kept pushing for the goal - with success! In the 73rd minute, Maza set up Kofane with a chip in behind the defence and the Cameroonian finished with a powerful strike from a tight angle. Hamburg did threaten an equaliser in the final minutes but Blaswich denied Luka Vuskovic with a brilliant save right at the end to keep it 1-0 to Bayer 04.

up next: another away game at freiburg

The Werkself are back on the road this Saturday, 7 March (kick-off 15:30 CET), as they take on SC Freiburg. Their opponents after that are Arsenal, FC Bayern Munich and 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 before the final international break of the season.

Match stats:

Hamburger SV: Heuer - Omari (Torunarigha 65'), Vuskovic, Elfadli - Jatta (Mikelbrencis 29'), Vieira, Remberg, Gocholeishvili - Königsdörffer (Lokonga 81'), Downs (Stange 65'), Philippe (Dompé 65')

Bayer 04: Blaswich - Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba - Culbreath (Poku 80'), Palacios, Garcia, Maza (Fernández 89'), Grimaldo - Terrier (Tillman 70'), Kofane

Goal: 0-1 Kofane (73')

Yellow cards: - / Garcia, Palacios

Referee: Sören Storks (Velen)

Attendance: 57,000 at the Volksparkstadion