Hamburg SV in the Champions League!

A goal on 75 minutes by the Dutch central defender Nigel de Jong cancelled out a goal scored by Cuellar after only 6 minutes. HSV go through on the away goals rule, after the first leg in the AOL Arena in Hamburg ended goalless.
 

Early setbacks

After only ten minutes, one could have been forgiven for having the feeling that it was not going to be HSV’s night. A goal down after six minutes and four minutes later clasy defender Vincent Kompany (who only made the starting line-up after passing a late fitness test) limped off injured with what looked like an occurrence of his adductor problem. The Spaniards scored from a corner, as HSV for some reason had no one at the far post. Keeper Sascha Kirschstein did not look good as he hit the deck too early and could only grope at air as the ball trickled agonisingly over him and into the net.

Collo the hero
Kompany was replaced by Collin Benjamin who played his first game for over a year. It didn’t show though, as Collo produced a gritty and determined performance, setting up the goal for Nigel de Jong with a header. As expected, the home side attacked HSV from the off with a vengeance. There was a hostile atmosphere inside the old out "Reyno de Navarra" stadium. Just before half time, Benny Lauth missed a sitter, as he headed straight at the keeper while unmarked from point blank range. Lauth had got the nod over new signing Paulo Guerrero for the game in Spain.

All’s well that ends well
After de Jong had brought HSV back to level terms, the home side threw everything they had at the Bundesliga side but to no avail. Nigel de Jong’s goal will probably bring a financial windfall of around 8 million Euros into the HSV coffers. HSV will play in the Champions League for the first time since the year 2000.

Match details:

C.A. Osasuna: Ricardo - Javier Flano (80.Valdo), Cuellar, Monreal (84.Munoz), Josetxo - David Lopez, Raul Garcia, Punal, Delporte - Soldado (69.Webo), Milosevic

HSV: Kirschstein - Mahdavikia, B. Reinhardt, Kompany (11.Benjamin), Demel - de Jong - Jarolim, Wicky (66.Guerrero) - van der Vaart - Lauth (78.Trochowski), Sanogo

Goals: 1-0 Cuellar (6.), 1-1 de Jong (75.)

Attendance: 18,766

Referee: Busacca (Switzerland)

Booked: Punal / Demel, Mahdavikia, Kirschstein