MD 11: ATHENS KERBEROS 2-1 SC HAMBURG 23

Written by: Wolfgang Fötze

Athens entered this game in abysmal form, having not won a match since matchday 3 vs. Amsterdam and were sitting bottom of the table. Hamburg, on the other hand, found themselves in 6th place with mixed form looking to gain momentum to enter the title race.

The start of the match saw Athens control the game through possession and dictating play for the first 10 minutes as they sought to create scoring opportunities. Hamburg, seeing the threat posed by Athens' attack, went for a more conservative approach, deploying more players behind the ball.

Despite Athens dominance in possession, they failed to create any good opportunities and in the 36th minute, against the run of play, Hamburg managed to break the deadlock. Ethan Lederman Jr played in a cross to Akyiama Hernandez. Akiyama Hernandez controlled the ball with his knee and seemingly used his hand before volleying it into the net, sparking wild protests from Athens players and fans, but the goal stood.

The second half saw a shift in Hamburg's approach, as they abandoned their defensive block, seeking to take control of the game and extend their lead. However, it was Athens who capitalized on their dominance in possession. In the 49th minute, Mick Lee's pass found David Bowlin, whose scuffed first-time shot deceived Becky Blake, levelling the score for Athens.

Athens quickly doubled their lead just 5 minutes later when Ilias Garcia's one-two with Bas Kurt created a through ball on goal for Garcia, who calmly slotted it home, granting Athens a crucial lead.

Athens controlled possession for the remainder of the game, frustrating Hamburg's attempts for a comeback. The final whistle was a relief for Athens, who secured a huge victory that climbed them away from the bottom of the table and sparked hope in their fight against relegation. With this loss, Hamburg now drops to 7th.