After heroic save against Union: special praise for an HSV star! | OneFootball

With the celebrated 3-2 victory over Union Berlin, HSV jumped to a strong ninth place. But the match could have taken a completely different turn.

Just seconds before halftime, HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes made an almost disastrous mistake. After a failed attempt to clear the ball, Berlin’s striker Andrej Ilić ran alone towards the deserted Hanseatic goal. The visitors’ renewed lead was within reach.

But then came Jordan Torunarigha. The central defender sprinted back at full speed and went all in. What seemed like a hopeless mission turned into a rescue act without even touching the ball. Torunarigha put so much pressure on Ilić that he missed the empty goal. In the direct counterattack, HSV struck on the other side and went into the locker room with plenty of momentum.

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HSV: Torunarigha is becoming more and more of a pillar

Coach Merlin Polzin then found clear words of praise. “He created more pressure than he actually defended, but that definitely speaks for Jordan and for the mentality to make that run, even though it actually seemed hopeless. You don’t want him breathing down your neck,” the coach explained. It was special praise that recognized not just this one scene, but Torunarigha’s overall development.

Because after initial difficulties, the 28-year-old has noticeably stabilized and has matured into a key figure within the team. In just twelve of 21 Bundesliga matches, he already has the sixth most touches on the team. With a tackle success rate of 66.67 percent, he is among HSV’s strongest defenders, and his passing accuracy is over 83 percent. His discipline also speaks for him: only eleven fouls, just one yellow card. A possible suspension is therefore a long way off.

But a tiny blemish remains. Torunarigha still occasionally makes minor mistakes in building up play. The Union mega-chance, which he ultimately thwarted himself, only came about because he put Fabio Vieira under pressure with a suboptimal pass, leading to a loss of possession. On the bright side: moments like these are becoming increasingly rare.

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