HSV outmuscled? Poulsen: They were on the ground more than us | OneFootball

In the city derby against FC St. Pauli, HSV had to accept a deserved 0:2 defeat. For a large part of the game, the promoted team had no chance.

This is underscored not least by the shot on goal statistics, which ended 17:5 in favor of the guests from Millerntor. The xG value of 1.43 to 0.48 also speaks volumes. With the exception of Ransford Königsdörffer's offside goal at the start of the second half, HSV simply created too little danger of their own.

The offensive harmlessness was rightly the dominant topic in the subsequent interviews and at the press conference. In addition, the Rothosen had to accept the criticism of having acted too negligently in decisive moments. For example, the 0:1 came after a short corner kick by the Kiezkicker.

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HSV struggles with corner kick goal

Yussuf Poulsen also identified this scene as the turning point. "The first 55 to 60 minutes were decent. We can't concede a goal from a corner kick," he demanded emphatically: "Until then we play 0:0 and from then on it's a different game."

However, the new signing did not want to deny his team the necessary commitment. As a praiseworthy example, he particularly highlighted Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit, whom he affectionately calls the "little Norwegian". "I didn't think at all that we were less in the duels," he made clear. They had been just as tough in direct confrontations as St. Pauli. Even more: "I think they were on the ground more than we were."

And indeed: In terms of duel balance, both teams were very close. HSV won 49 percent of their ground duels and 75 percent in the air. But it all helped nothing: In the end, the former Bundesliga dinosaur lost – mainly due to the weaker game structure – deservedly with 0:2. All the more bitter: After the international break, another mammoth task awaits Merlin Polzin's charges against FC Bayern (13.09, 6.30 pm).

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