VfB Stuttgart
| 1-1 | Gentner | (27. Min) |
| 2-1 | Harnik | (35. Min) |
Hamburger SV
| 0-1 | Kacar | (12. Min) |
Rene Adler
Stats 
Christian Gentner scored the equalizer.
A significant step
At the capacity filled Mercedes-Benz Arena, VfB Stuttgart beat Hamburger SV 2-1. Having gone a goal down early on, Huub Stevens’ men turned the tie and took the lead before the break. With no further goals in the second period, VfB clung onto the narrow advantage to take the all-important three points at the end of a passionate and committed display.
Huub Stevens began against the north Germans with exactly the same eleven that began in last weekend’s 2-0 home win over 1. FSV Mainz 05. Fired on by their fateful fans, all decked out in white and having marched from the Cannstatter Bahnhof (railway station) to the Arena, the hosts took charge right from the outset against a cautiously defensive HSV side. With just 12 minutes played though, Hamburg had their first attempt on goal – and duly took the lead! From a delivery from the right, Gojko Kacar rose highest to head past Sven Ulreich from eleven meters out. VfB needed just a short period to settle from the setback but then pressed forward again, with Daniel Didavi driving in a shot from 25 meters out, which failed to trouble René Adler (16.).
As the match continued, more of the play became confined to the midfield, with niggling fouls often interrupting the flow of the play. It took until the 27th minute, but then VfB’s determination was finally rewarded. Breaking on the right, Daniel Schwaab put in a cross to the near post, where Christian Gentner shot on the turn, slotting the ball between the legs of René Adler in the Hamburg goal to equalise.
The leveller kicked started a period of pressure for the Cannstatt Boys. Just shy of the half-hour mark, the VfB captain was involved again, bringing an excellent save from Adler with a 25-meter drive. In the 35th minute, the hosts then took a deserved lead. Filip Kostic delivered a corner to the back post, where Martin Harnik was perfectly placed to force the ball over the line and make it 2-1. The Austrian had a further chance before half time, but the effort narrowly zipped wide of the post and the Cannstatt Boys took the narrow advantage into the break.
Huub Stevens: "I’ve really got to give my team a massive compliment for managing to keep a clear head after the unexpected setback, then getting the equaliser and taking the lead just shortly afterwards. The only thing I can accuse the team of is not making use of the further chances we had. Now we have one very important game ahead of us." Post match comments
Chances aplenty, no further goals
Playing towards the Cannstatter Kurve for the second period, VfB had their first effort on goal through Filip Kostic, but the Serb was unable to keep his shot on target. Huub Stevens’ men were clearly the more active of the two sides, as they pressed forward in search of a more comfortable lead. With an hour on the clock, Daniel Didavi fired a free-kick just over the bar from 16 meters out. A further sixty seconds later, Daniel Ginczek had an effort blocked away by Johan Djourou and from the resulting corner, Timo Baumgartl headed into the arms of Adler. The HSV keeper had to be alert again just a minute later, dashing out to deny Daniel Didavi from a tight angle.
VfB remained in the driving seat, pushing in search of a third goal, whilst never opening up at the back to allow Hamburg room to operate in Filip Kostic (73‘) and Martin Harnik (81‘) had further chances to add to the Stuttgart lead, but even after four minutes of injury time, there were no more goals and VfB deservedly claimed all three points, to move off the bottom of the table. Next weekend, the Cannstatt Boys face their next “final”, when they take on new bottom side SC Paderborn 07. VfB have taken a positive step forwards, but nothing has been achieved just yet!
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