Match Report: HSV (A)

Pre-match

Away days with Union are always something to look forward to. As a group, we Eiserne Internationals pencil in a couple of games a year where we try to travel as a group, and these days are always a highlight of the year.

Hamburg away was an obvious choice - relatively nearby, a storied club, and a big enough away allocation that we had a good chance of tickets.

A few made a weekend of it, but around 10 of us hopped on at Hauptbahnhof for a surprisingly leisurely ride out to Hamburg Altona.

Enjoying a couple of refined breakfasts beers, we chatted everything from band touring schedules, to the pros and cons of Berlin's childcare system with some lovely folks from Grenzenlos.

We also discussed the unpleasant incident at the Abseitsfalle a couple of weeks ago, a heavy topic for a Saturday morning but interesting to get a range of views on how to address it.

A group behind us were on the Eierlikör very early. I'm all for eggs for breakfast but that is a bold effort.

We've been gifted with another scattering of snow in the last days, making the vast flat reaches of Brandenburg rather beautiful as we swept past fields and forests.

The train arrived a mere 5 minutes behind schedule in Altona. I've never been to Hamburg and only know Altona from watching Die Discounter, but it looked quite lovely actually.

A small snowball fight on the platform helped the already chipper mood.

After a lunch stop, we were proactively befriended on the S-Bahn by a man in his 80s, who insisted we join him for a drink at Othmarschen.

He promptly ordered an extremely large glass of wine, retrieved a large Hamburg city flag which apparently lived behind the bar, used it as a tablecloth, and quickly explained his life story while we chugged a Jever (bad idea).

Decked in HSV gear, he nevertheless took off his hat to reveal a big St Pauli logo on the inside.

The gist I got is that he lives a bit outside Hamburg and more or less comes to see whichever team is at home that weekend.

Nice fellow, as all the HSV fans were to be honest.

A quick bus to the stadium, and then a really annoying wait at the security checkpoint for no apparent reason.

When we finally got in, there were just a few minutes to kick off, and we perched ourselves up high in the stands. Heck of a stadium they've got: big, steep, loud, great atmosphere from all sides of the ground.

The place really erupts when they score. Which they did. A lot.

First Half

The game? Meh. As with all away trips, the actual football was secondary, so I won't spend too much time on it.

We were on the ropes in the early stages, the annoyingly tricky Vieira running the show for the hosts.

We scrapped out a few chances by releasing Ansah and Jeong, but for my taste we were too light in midfield.

Amazingly we took the lead, HSV looking timid up front despite their general good play. Ilic battled in the box and was fuelled for a clear penalty.

We all held our breath as Querfeld stepped up. His last pen against Frankfurt somehow crept in but wasn't exactly a belter, but credit to a 20 year old centre back for always stepping up under pressure.

This time he stroked it home with ease to give us the lead.

It didn't last long.

Hamburg got free through the middle, Vieira again I think, and it was all to easy to pick a gap in the defence and thread in the striker who rolled past Rönnow.

In the meantime, the HSV fans put up a banner wishing Kevin Keegan a happy birthday.

The back and forth continued, we won a few good turnovers in midfield, one of which led to a lovely clip over the top from Kemlein, into injury time in the first half.

Ilic ran free, the keeper raced out but totally misjudged it, the ball bouncing over him while he was stranded outside the box.

Ilic ran onto it and had the entire goal to hit from the edge of the area. Somehow, under a bit of pressure from a recovering defender, he side footed wide! To put it lightly, he very much should have scored.

We all knew what would happen next, and indeed HSV cantered downfield again and scored, 2-1 going into half time.

We sang and cheered regardless, as is right and proper.

Second Half

Still reeling from the sucker punch, we were slow out of the blocks in the second half.

Belatedly we started to push, Köhn curling a peach of a free kick off the bar.

Schäfer, Skarke, Burcu and Burke were introduced and we were suddenly on top. Skarke always looks better on the wing, and together with Burcu gave fresh impetus, a few tantalising crosses unable to find a man.

Against the run of play though, HSV nabbed a third in what felt like a carbon copy of the first two.

To our credit we kept at it, and to Ilic's extreme credit so did he. Playing two up top with Burke caused chaos for HSV. Ilic had already troubled the keeper twice with headers, and a floated cross found Burke peeling off the defender.

He selflessly headed it back across and Ilic attacked it with fury to bury the ball in the net. We celebrated his first league goal of the season like a win.

We sensed some hope going into 6 minutes of added time, but it wasn't to be.

We sang and cheered regardless, as is right and proper.

I don't think we could complain about the result. We didn't take our big chances, whereas Hamburg were clinical.

So began the journey home, enthusiastically led by our resident German and starting with a 2km trek across a graveyard and an extremely slippery, dark park. A lovely warm bus followed, thank god, before we found ourselves back in the rather fancy surrounds of the station.

A lost glove (not mine) was bitterly lamented for the whole park journey, before it was suddenly and miraculously found in a pocket (mine).

While ordering my emotional support KFC, two HSV fans came over to me and announced that they were from the Bundesamt for Checking What People Order From KFC. I'm not convinced such an Amt exists, but I'm also not ruling it out.

Once again, they were absolutely lovely, and we had a good chat in a mix of bad German and good English while waiting for said chicken.

They talked glowingly about recently visiting Dublin.

They asked if Sainsbury's was an area of London.

My German failed me entirely and I accidentally said I was with my girlfriend when I meant I was with my friends. They looked quite confused when I pointed at two men, but took it in stride.

HSV fans. Strong recommend.

Sustenance secured and cultural ties strengthened, we bundled into the bordbistro (possibly a mistake, certainly memorable) for an exotic journey home featuring some large, increasingly refreshed ultras.

Copious dancing, frequent, miscellaneous bellowing, some extremely confusing conversations, a marriage proposal, and the occasional threat of a fight (amongst themselves, mainly) ensued.

Also a lot of Berliner Luft and Mexicaner.

In my limited experience, trains home from away games are a zoo, except you get thrown into a random enclosure. Sometimes you're splashing happily with the penguins, sometimes you're laughing nervously with the lions. It was mostly fun to watch, but not something I would do every day.

Before too long, 40 minute delay notwithstanding, we were back in Berlin and dissipated, tired but happy, into the night.

A really good day out again. Lots of laughs, lots to see, and we met some nice people.

Always a long day, but always a good day. Looking forward to the next one.

No better way to spend Valentine's Day.

Eisern!

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By @MarkJB on Bluesky