25 years ago today: HSV and Juventus serve up a timeless thriller | OneFootball

During the week, the Volksparkstadion celebrated its 100th birthday. It has witnessed many memorable football nights. Many fans will especially remember September 13, 2000, when HSV and Juventus engaged in a furious showdown.

As third in the league, Hamburger SV was allowed to participate in the Champions League qualifiers in the summer of 2000. In the duels with the Danish side Bröndby IF (2:0/0:0), they qualified for the Champions League, established in 1992, for the first time. The group draw brought attractive opponents. Alongside Panathinaikos and Deportivo La Coruna, the Italian runners-up Juventus awaited. A special reunion from a Hanseatic perspective: on May 25, 1983, HSV experienced the greatest day in its history, winning the European Cup thanks to a goal from Felix Magath.

The fact that HSV fans immediately think of a second date when talking about encounters with Juventus speaks volumes. The Wednesday evening of September 13, 2000, offered the 48,500 spectators in the sold-out Volksparkstadion an unforgettable spectacle. The visitors fielded a squad packed with world-class players like keeper Edwin van der Sar, Zinédine Zidane, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, and Edgar Davids, managed by today’s coaching icon Carlo Ancelotti.

HSV Comeback of the Highest Order

The significantly higher individual class dominated at first. Igor Tudor, now the coach of the Vecchia Signora, headed in from a corner for an early 0:1 (6’). But HSV quickly equalized: Anthony Yeboah also scored with his head after escaping his marker Ciro Ferrara. Frank Pagelsdorf’s team put in a very courageous performance. However, their lack of experience at the highest international level was noticeable.

Moreover, Juventus proved ice-cold in their finishing. The wily Inzaghi scored twice after wonderful assists from Zidane and Del Piero – 1:3. The match seemed decided early on. The Turin side appeared too composed. But they hadn’t reckoned with the never-say-die Hamburgers, who were also kept in the game by the post after a big chance from Darko Kovacevic.

(Photo: Imago)

Substitute Marcel Ketelaer proved to be a live wire on the left wing. His cross was poked over the line by future fan favorite Mehdi Mahdavikia in the 65th minute to make it 2:3. The scorer was simply unstoppable in the second half. Ferrara stopped him shortly after in his own penalty area by unfair means. The resulting penalty was coolly converted by goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt – who scored a total of 21 goals for HSV – as he sent van der Sar the wrong way – 3:3.

The fans in the stands were already going wild. But it got even better: once again, Mahdavikia was the catalyst, whipping a nearly cleared free kick from midfield back into the danger zone, allowing Niko Kovac to simply stick out a foot. “When Niko Kovac made it 4:3, the seat cushions flew onto the pitch. I’ve never seen anything like it, people didn’t know what to do with their emotions and just threw their seat cushions onto the field. We players picked them up, looking at the stands in disbelief. It was incredible, what an explosion of emotions that was,” recalled Roy Präger, who came on when the score was 2:3, in the Monday edition of kicker, describing the scenes in the Volkspark.

Inzaghi Penalty Prevents Historic Victory

The first win in their first Champions League appearance, and in the most incredible fashion, was within reach. But 120 seconds before the end of regular time, HSV once again defended too naively. Sergej Barbarez tugged lightly at Inzaghi’s shirt at the edge of the box, and he gratefully accepted the invitation, converting the penalty to make it 4:4. Shortly after, referee Vitor Manuel Melo Perreira ended a breathtaking football match that, on paper, did not bring HSV a victory – but left countless radiant winners among all those close to the club.

HSV – Juventus 4:4 (1:2)

HSV: Butt,-Panadic, Hoogma, Hertzsch,-Kovac,-Groth (27. Tøfting), Hollerbach (46. Ketelaer), Cardoso (67. Präger),-Mahdavikia, Yeboah, Barbarez

Juventus: van der Sar,-Tudor, Ferrara, Iuliano (59. Birindelli), Pessotto,-Tacchinardi,-O´Neill (71. Bachini), Davids,-Zidane,-Inzaghi, Del Piero (59. Kovacevic)

The return leg was actually won 3:1 by the Rothosen, who were eliminated as third in the group. Präger, Yeboah, and the iron-hard Andrej Panadic scored the goals. On the Juventus side, Zidane was sent off early for a headbutt against Jochen Kientz, as was Davids. Despite plenty of talking points, what remains for many long-time HSV observers is above all the 4:4 draw – perhaps also in the hope of one day experiencing such a magnificent European night again.

Nur die Raute – All the news about HSV

(Photo: Imago)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.