Pitch invasion at Volkspark: HSV celebrate last-gasp survival vs Wolfsburg | OneFootball

HSV and VfL Wolfsburg have faced each other 44 times in the Bundesliga, engaging in several entertaining duels. However, one particular match remains especially memorable for many fans of both clubs.

This match took place on May 20, 2017, the final day of that Bundesliga season, at the Volksparkstadion and was full of tension. Before kickoff, HSV was in the relegation spot with 35 points. VfL Wolfsburg was just two points ahead. It was clear that the Hanseatic team needed a win in this direct encounter to secure their place in the league.

They were fortunate to even have the chance to play this "final." Only a week earlier, the only goal of the season by the previously written-off Pierre-Michel Lasogga and the decisive intervention of the assistant referee in a supposed Schalke winning goal secured them a lucky point. Otherwise, avoiding a third relegation playoff in four years would have been only theoretically possible.

Waldschmidt Heads HSV to Safety

Under the coaching of Markus Gisdol, who had taken over early in the season from Bruno Labbadia, HSV had their fate in their own hands but initially played as if they had something to lose. The Rothosen rarely crossed the halfway line. The clearly superior guests, whose squad included notable players like Mario Gómez, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Luiz Gustavo, Koen Casteels, and the later Napoli star Victor Osimhen, took the lead after 23 minutes with a header from Robin Knoche.

Nur die Raute – All News about HSV

However, his defensive partner Philipp Wollscheid made a big mistake shortly afterward by losing the ball during build-up play. HSV quickly switched gears, Lewis Holtby set up Filip Kostic, who scored with a low shot to make it 1-1. The game then lost momentum, with Wolfsburg still appearing more stable but failing to capitalize on their advantages.

VfL seemed quite content with the 1-1 draw, as it guaranteed their safety in the league. They likely felt relatively secure due to Hamburg's lack of threat. HSV pushed forward but played without ideas and with poor execution, creating little danger. Yet, in the 88th minute, there was a moment that made everything before it forgotten: Kostic chased down a seemingly overhit cross from Gotoku Sakai and delivered one of his later-famous pinpoint crosses, which the newly substituted Luca Waldschmidt headed under the crossbar for a celebrated 2-1 lead.

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The Volksparkstadion was in a frenzy, but they still had to endure over seven minutes of stoppage time. During this period, Christian Mathenia, possibly playing the best game of his career, made another outstanding save to secure the lead. HSV, having started the season with just two points from ten games, achieved the seemingly impossible task of staying in the league. This was followed by a pitch invasion by numerous ecstatic fans, reminiscent of the scenes from the promotion match against Ulm.

HSV – VfL Wolfsburg 2:1 (1:1)

HSV: Mathenia,-Sakai, Papdopoulos, Mavraj, Ostrzolek,-Ekdal (71, Jatta), Jung,-Müller (64. Gregoritsch), Holtby (86. Waldschmidt), Kostic,-Wood

Wolfsburg: Casteels,-Jung (76. Osimhen), Knoche, Wollscheid, Gerhardt,-Guilavogui, Luiz Gustavo,-Blaszczykowski (46. Vieirinha), Malli (84. Arnold), Ntep,-Gómez

Goals: 0:1 Knoche (23.), 1:1 Kostic (32.), 2:1 Waldschmidt (88.)

The joy over the last-minute survival did not last long. Although HSV won their first two matches of the new season, they only managed two more victories in the following 26 games and were relegated. Even a late rally was not enough, but it again posed significant problems for VfL Wolfsburg. They once more found themselves in the relegation playoff, but secured their Bundesliga status with a 4-1 victory over Cologne on the final day, sealing Hamburg's relegation. Wolfsburg won both playoffs quite convincingly, which is why they have been a top-flight team for over 28 years.

Photo: Getty Images

Meanwhile, HSV took seven seasons to leave the second division. Now they face Wolfsburg again, against whom they have only won once in the last eleven home games, that memorable one on May 20, 2017. Today's encounter does not carry nearly the same explosive potential. Nevertheless, another victory would bring great joy to Hamburg fans and simultaneously create a cushion over VfL and, more importantly, the relegation spots.

Photo: Getty Images

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