Hamburger SV clawed their way back to the top of the Bundesliga on Sunday, ridding themselves of the “curse of the Lausitz” in the process.
Martin Jol's side won 2-1 at Energie Cottbus for the first time in six attempts, thanks to a 90th-minute goal from Mladen Petric. For the home side, defeat leaves them 16th and still in search of their first home win.
Olic breaks the deadlock
HSV went in front nine minutes into the second half through Ivica Olic, but looked like being denied victory when Branko Jelic equalised with just over quarter of an hour remaining.
The visitors took control from the off in the Stadion der Freundschaft, and target number one up front was invariably Mladen Petric, who had scored in each of his last six competitive games.
The home defence kept their shape well however, and it loked like turning into a frustrating afternoon for Hamburg, who came closest through Paolo Guerrero (37.) and David Jarolim (42.) in the first half.
Hamburg eventually went in front when home keeper Gerhard Tremmel parried a shot from Guerrero right at Olic's feet, leaving the striker to mop up from five metres out.
After that Jerome Boateng (58.) and Petric, who hit the post in the 63rd minute, came close to putting HSV two up. Instead, Jelic sored out of the blue to level it for Energie. The guests were determined to leave with the points however, and all their effort proved worth it when that man Petric did the business once again right at the death.
Croatian strikers fire HSV through
HSV leave it late
“A special kind of game”