MD 20: KS WARSAW 1-1 SC HAMBURG 23
Stoppage time drama as Hamburg escapes with a point
Written by: Saad Maan, Forta Evening News
Managing just one win in their last five matches, despite having the superior table placement, Hamburg aren't as favoured as one might think. Similarly to the Germans, Warsaw also have one win in their last five. Despite this, they find themselves in the relegation zone in desperate need of points.
The opening 25 minutes was described by the onlookers as "the worst football they've ever seen". Neither team were there to play nice, as it was a constant battle for possession in the midfield.
In the 39th minute, following a nice spell of possession by Warsaw, they were blatantly fouled outside the box. With no one else feeling courageous enough to step up, it fell to Pepe Mancini. With a powerful effort, he struck it into the top corner, giving Warsaw the lead in what can be summarised as a boring first half.
Going into half-time, neither team made any changes. Notably, Jason Rodriguez could be seen coming out from the dressing room with no neck.
The second half would largely play out just like the first, with neither team managing to get a foothold and create something. As desperation kicked in for Hamburg, captain Akiyama Hernandez would lunge in recklessly, getting him a yellow card.
Perhaps that tackle was what Hamburg needed, as their team suddenly looked alive. From a deep set-piece in stoppage time, Zin Noisy made a run from the half-way line, combining with the now noticeably shorter J-Rod, to score and equalise, sending the away end into raptures.
The draw sees Hamburg maintain their position in the table, sitting in 7th. Too far away to think about the initial goals of the top 4, but in danger of losing ground to the teams below, as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Lisboa find themselves two points behind. Warsaw remains in the relegation zone as the teams above match their result, and with 10 matches remaining, the relegation fight is truly heating up.
