After a week at the top of the Bundesliga, Hamburg came back down to earth with a bump on Sunday.
A poor first-half showing led to a 3-0 (3-0) defeat in the “northern derby” at VfL Wolfsburg, leaving HSV to slip to second in the table behind Schalke 04.
Quick-fire start
A sell-out 30,000 corwd in the Wolfsburg Arena saw the home side virtually kill the game off within the first half hour. In the 15th minute Ashkan Dejagah connected sweetly with a great cross from Marcel Schäfer to put the “Wolves” in front.
Seven minutes later Alexander Madlung took advantage of more sloppy Hamburg defending to make it 2-0. Then, in the 28th minute, a spectacular solo effort from Grafite gave the hosts a three-goal cushion against the league leaders.
No way back for Hamburg
HSV coach Martin Jol took off Jerome Boateng at that point, but by then the damage was done. Defensive frailties aside, the visitors also failed to ignite up front, and there was no sign of them battling back from behind in this one to win or draw - as they have done five times already his season.
Three to the good, Wolfsburg stepped off the gas somewhat without losing control of proceedings. HSV pressed as best they could, but long before the end had capitulated to the inevitability of their first defeat of the season.
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