3-2 from 0-2 down – BVB’s second-half onslaught against HSV | OneFootball

Personnel matters With the exception of captain Emre Can and young prospect Filippo Mane, all the first-team players were available. The starting XI was the same as for the match against Augsburg a week ago (2-0).

The match Borussia lined up in a 3-3-2-2 formation once again and had the chance to take an early lead when Maxi Beier won the ball from Nicolai Remberg, left Luka Vuskovic in his wake and then had only Daniel Heuer Fernandes to beat, but the goalkeeper made a strong save with his foot to keep the ball out (7). BVB subsequently put HSV under pressure with “controlled attacking play” but were neither forceful nor creative enough to create further chances. Instead, Daniel Svensson misjudged the ball after a headed flick on by Ransford Königsdörffer. William Mikelbrencis then sprinted down the right into the box and squared the ball to Philip Otele, who slotted home to make it 0-1 (19). Shortly afterwards, Felix Nmecha made a brave tackle to thwart an HSV counter attack (22), Gregor Kobel saved from Königsdörffer (24), and when the ball found the net again following the resulting corner, only Königsdörffer being offside spared BVB from going 0-2 down (25). But the second goal did come in the 38th minute through Albert Lokonga after Borussia had lost possession twice in their build-up play. Seconds earlier, Nico Schlotterbeck had seen his header hit the crossbar, so instead of being 1-1, it was 0-2. Nmecha missed the chance to pull one back in the 45th minute when he fired a penalty (Omari on Beier) wide of the left-hand post.

The second half began with two substitutions – Serhou Guirassy and Ramy Bensebaini for Adeyemi and Reggiani – and following a brilliant move, Nmecha found himself one-on-one with Heuer Fernandes. The HSV keeper was already on the ground but managed to get his fingertips to the ball, preventing Dortmund's first goal with his second brilliant save (49).

BVB settled into Hamburg’s half, with Nmecha firing a volley just wide (55), and two more attacking players – Fabio Silva and Carney Chukwuemeka – came on for Svensson and Sabitzer. On paper, Beier took over Svensson’s position, but in reality he was playing as a forward. Then, Fabio Silva’s curling shot was destined for the back of the net before it was deflected (67).

Shortly afterwards, BVB were awarded a second penalty as Beier was fouled again, this time by Mikelbrencis, and substitute Bensebaini stepped up and converted confidently (73). The game was now one-way traffic with a cross from Ryerson, a header from Guirassy, a brilliant save by Heuer Fernandes, a follow-up from Guirassy and another brilliant save by Heuer Fernandes. Fortunately, Fabio Silva was on hand to finish from two yards out to make it 2-2. It was later confirmed that Guirassy’s second follow-up had already crossed the line.

The goal hadn’t even been awarded to Guirassay by the time Fabio Silva was through again, but Heuer Fernandes was having a world-class game. Yet even he couldn’t stop Bensebaini’s artistry from the penalty spot. Following a handball by Muheim, the defender stepped up once more and converted confidently again, low into the bottom-right corner (84), sending SIGNAL IDUNA PARK into total ecstasy.  In stoppage time, Guirassy missed the chance to seal the deal early, but in the end it was still enough for BVB’s second home win in seven days. OutlookThe league is taking a break for the national team matches. BVB will be back in action in 14 days (Saturday 4 April, 18:30 CET) with an away match against VfB Stuttgart.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND – HAMBURGER SV 3-2 (0-2)

Bundesliga, Matchday 27BVB: Kobel – Reggiani (46, Bensebaini), Anton, Schlotterbeck – Ryerson, Bellingham, Svensson (58, Silva) – Sabitzer (58, Chukwuemeka), Nmecha (90+6, Brandt) – Adeyemi (46, Guirassy), BeierSubstitutes: Meyer, Couto, Özcan, Süle