Mahdavikia assisted a goal in Hamburg's win over Duisburg

Sergej Barbarez put his side on the road to victory with a goal after 39 minutes. On the stroke of half time, Benny Lauth scored his first goal of the season, much to his and of course the HSV fans’ relief. HSV missed several chances in the second half but in the end were well worth their victory. 
  
HSV on top from the off
HSV began to show the visiting side who is boss right  from the off. On 4 minutes, Raphael van der Vaart (who returned to the side after serving a three match suspension), crossed to Sergej Barbarez who headed wide from 9 metres out. Duisburg made it clear that they had come to defend and the home side had trouble breaking down their massed defence during the majority of the first half. The Hamburg coach Thomas Doll had said beforehand that the game against Duisburg would be a patient waiting game, and he was right.
 
 
One way traffic
The game was only going in one direction early on, and that was in the direction of Georg Koch’s goal. HSV ran at them and combined well, and tried to breach the Duisburg blockade by pumping high balls into the box. Duisburg didn’t get a chance to perform and it was plain to see why they have not won away from home so far this season. On 22 minutes, Barbarez was sandwiched between Biliskov and Baelum as he went up for a cross. The huge crowd demanded a penalty, but the referee’s whistle remained silent.
 
 
Two goals before the break
After half an hour, David Jarolim should have put the home side ahead as van der Vaart brought him into play inside the area. The Czech defender however, somehow put his shot wide from only 4 metres out. Nine minutes later though HSV finally broke the deadlock, as Mahdavikia crossed from the right and Barbarez placed a perfectly weighted header beyond Koch and into the far corner. There followed a further half chance for the home side through Jarolim who shot wide from around 20 metres out. On the stroke of half time, Barbarez took a quick free kick in midfield into the path of Benny Lauth, who lobbed Koch from the edge of the area to give HSV a two goal half time lead.
 
 
As you were
Both teams emerged from the break unchanged, and HSV dropped down a gear but still controlled the game. Duisburg had a little more possession but didn’t know what to do with it. HSV outplayed them in all departments, and the visitors rarely threatened the HSV goal. Things were very different up the other end of the pitch. Beinlich headed a superb pass by Lauth wide and Barbarez was thwarted by the right foot of Georg Koch. A couple of minutes later, van der Vaart almost cheekily lobbed Koch from 13 metres out. The Duisburg keeper just about got enough on the ball to drag it down.
 
 
Never in any danger
HSV ruled the roost throughout; they combined a t will and dictated the pace of the game, while winning almost all of their tackles. The HSV keeper Stefan Wächter was out of work for most of the match. Even as the home side tired and their concentration waned, Duisburg was unable to take advantage. Sergej Barbarez tried to set up Mpenza (who replaced Lauth late in the second half) twice, but the Belgian couldn’t reach the ball and so the chances went begging.
 
HSV can now travel with confidence to Monaco, where they play their third UEFA Cup group game on Thursday. Coach Thomas Doll’s side has now cemented its third place in the Bundesliga table, six points ahead of fourth placed Schalke.
 
Match Details:
 
HSV:  Wächter - Mahdavikia, Boulahrouz, van Buyten, Atouba - Wicky - Jarolim, Beinlich - van der Vaart - Barbarez, Lauth 
 
Duisburg:  G. Koch - Möhrle, Biliskov, Baelum - Tjikuzu, Grlic, Anfang, A. Meyer - Willi, Rietpietsch - Ahanfouf  
 

Goals:   1:0 Barbarez (39.), 2:0 Lauth (45.) 
 
Referee: Kinhöfer
 
Attendance:  51,779
 
Yellow cards:  Atouba, Wicky, Beinlich - Kurth, Anfang, van Houdt