The Bundesliga race tightened considerable as Wolfburg upset HSV 3-1 in the Nord derby at Volksparkstadion. It was a shocking set-up for Martin Jol's side as they had yet to lose at home this year but with it Wolfsburg now climbs to fourth in the table and only four points behind first-place Hertha BSC.Felix Magath had a number of surprises in-store for HSV as faced with Zvjezdan Misimović absence due to suspension, his starting eleven including Grafite, rushed back from knee surgery and the eye-brow raising decision to use Ashkan Dejagah who less than a month ago was diagnosed with hepatitis A.
Die Wölfe were the beneficiary of a opportunistic start twelve minutes in as Dennis Aogo was adjudged to obstructing Edin Džeko in the box and the sport was pointed to. Grafite stepped up and sent the ball into the net giving Wolfsburg the one goal lead. The visitors fast pace start continued as only thirteen minutes later it was 2-0 as Marcel Schäfer centered the ball from the by-line to Grafite, who subsequently drove the ball in from ten metres. The clearly out-of-form HSV were unable to threaten for the majority of the match and it wasn't till eighteen minutes remaining that they were able to halve the margin as Alex Silva cross into the box was sent in by José Guerrero from twelve metres. Only three minutes later Bosnian international Edin Džeko closed out Christian Gentner's cross from point-blank range to bring the match to its final 3-1 score-line.
Photo credit: Kicker (© picture-alliance)
