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Immanuel Pherai (back left) celebrates his opening goal with Ignace Van der Brempt
Photo:
Tim Rehbein/dpa
Hamburger SV got off to a successful start in the second half of the Second Bundesliga.
At Schalke 04, HSV managed a 2-0 (2-0) with goals from Immanuel Pherai (22nd minute) and Laszlo Benes (35th).
It was only the third away win for Hamburg, in third place they are only one point behind Holstein Kiel.
Schalke's failure this season continues even after the winter break.
The Royal Blues had already changed coaches in the first half of the season, and the defeat left the team coached by Karel Geraerts in 14th place, just three points ahead of the relegation place.
In the first few minutes the hosts were the dominant team, dangerous crosses from Thomas Ouwejan created tricky situations in the Hamburg penalty area (3rd, 8th).
Then Schalke's central defense lacked any orientation when Ignace Van der Brempt crossed from the right and Pherai headed the lead completely unmarked in the penalty area (22nd).
Mohr saves with his head on the goal line
The equalizer was almost achieved, but Ouwejan's free kick from 25 meters hit the crossbar (33').
Instead, Hamburg followed up: right-back Cédric Brunner allowed himself to be outplayed by Jean-Luc Dompé, whose cross Benes easily used to make it 2-0 (35').
The second half began with a chance from Simon Terodde, who shot over the goal from Paul Seguin's cross (47'), before Bakery Jatta posed a threat on the right.
After a long sprint, the Gambian passed across to Benes, whose shot was headed off by Tobias Mohr on the line (54').
Schalke now had to shape the game because Hamburg formed a more defensive formation and waited for counterattack opportunities.
There were definitely opportunities to connect, for example Ron Schallenberg narrowly missed from a distance (61') and Ouwejan's shot from the left hit the far post (74').
The Hamburg victory was no longer in danger.
mrk