Cool from the spot

Bruno Labbadia started with the same eleven that began against Freiburg last weekend and, with just 23 minutes played, VfB took the lead. From an attempted clearance by Dennis Diekmeier, the ball fell to Hajnal, who drew the attention of three defenders before squaring to Ibisevic, who slotted home coolly from twelve meters out. In the 31st minute, the VfB supporters were celebrating again as Kuzmanovic drove the ball home comfortably from the penalty spot. Prior to the awarding of the spot-kick, Rajkovic had bustled Okazaki off the ball in an aerial challenge and referee Peter Sippel didn’t hesitate in making his decision. VfB took their deserved 2-0 lead into the break.

‘Kuz’ takes the responsibility again

The second half again started positively for Bruno Labbadia’s men. Just seconds after the re-start, Harnik dribbled the ball past Rajkovic, who jutted out a leg for the Austrian to stumble over, and again the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Having successfully converted in the first half, Kuzmanovic stepped up again to pick his spot and make it 3-0.

HSV answered with a number of angry attacks, but Petric’s header in the 48th minute failed to really test Ulreich, who was soon to have a central role to play. The frustration of the north German side was personified in Paolo Guerrero, who, in the 54th minute made an absolutely unnecessary lunge into the knees of Sven Ulreich at the corner flag and was immediately red-carded for the awful challenge.