Adama Diakhaby’s first half goal earns Town the win
- Huddersfield Town beat Hamburger SV in Austria
- Jan Siewert’s side battled and defended excellently against the 2. Bundesliga side
- Watch Tommy Elphick’s post-match reaction to the win
Huddersfield Town made it back-to-back wins in pre-season beating 2. Bundesliga side Hamburger SV 1-0 at the Sportplatz Kitzbühel-Langau.
Adama Diakhaby, who caused the German side a lot of problems in the first half, put Town ahead in the 22nd minute smashing an effort into the back of the net from close range.
The ‘normal’ conditions the Terriers had grown to be used to, those of wind and rain, were playing a large part in the game as the German side dominated the proceedings.
Despite the early possession, Town remained firm shuffling into different positions to make it hard for HSV. It wasn’t until the 10th minute when the 2. Bundesliga side has their first opening.
A short corner eventually fell to left-back Tim Leibold, who struck a fierce effort from 25 yards out just wide.
Moments later the German side had their best chance of the half. Defender Jonas David clipped a perfect ball over the Town defence, which was met by Captain Aaron Hunt. The midfielder, who has three caps for Germany, tried to lift the ball over the on-rushing Ryan Schofield, but the young ‘keeper reacted well and tipped the ball over the bar.
Town continued to battle, trying to create openings and in the 22nd minute they took the lead through Adama Diakhaby.
Alex Pritchard’s resulting free-kick was kept alive by Tommy Elphick at the back post, who dragged the ball across the face of goal, before Diakhaby smashed an effort from close range into back of the net. His first goal of pre-season.
Hamburger SV continued to put Town under pressure but a defence marshalled well by Christopher Schindler and Tommy Elphick held firm.
21-year-old Turkey international Berkay Ozcan had a good opening just before half-time. Winger Sonny Kittel broke down the left and cut the ball back to the midfielder on the edge of the area. He was in a lot of space but sliced an effort wide.
Once again, Head Coach Jan Siewert rung the changes at half-time changing his whole Town side.
Like the first half, Hamburger SV started the strongest and put Town on the back foot. However, Jan Siewert’s side looked dangerous on the break utalising the pace of Rajiv van La Parra, Elias Kachunga and Josh Koroma.
Young left-back Jaden Brown made an excellent block on the edge of the Town box to stop a Lukas Hinterseer effort testing Joel Coleman seven minutes into the half. Before a quick Town break, led by second half Captain Kachunga, almost created an opening for the Terriers.
Town continued to defend well. Another Young Terrier, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, perfectly timed a slide tackle to stop a break away before the German side had another good chance.
A freak moment on the 70-minute mark almost threatened Town’s lead. The referee pulled up Joel Coleman for holding the ball for too long and awarded HSV an indirect free-kick just inside the area. The set piece was laid off to Kittel who fired a low effort into the Town wall.
Coleman, who responded well to the decision, was called into action shortly after. A well worked move from the German side fell to Jeremy Dudziak on the edge of the area before Town’s ‘keeper tipped it over the bar. Centre-back and Greece international Kyriakos Papadopoulos head the resulting corner wide.
The second half was a real test of Town’s battle, reserve and spirit, all of which shone.
There were two great chances for the Terriers’ opponents in the last 10 minutes. A fierce cross picked out a Hamburger SV winger at the back post, just in front of goal, but his effort flew over the bar.
Moments later, midfielder Khaled Narey received the ball on the edge of the area and flashed an effort just wide.
The last chance of the game, however, fell to Town. Aaron Mooy swung a dangerous ball into the area, which was flicked on by Stankovic at the near post. Rarmani Edmonds-Green tried to get on the end of it, but the ball just evaded him.
It was another excellent battling performance from Jan Siewert’s side, which ended the pre-season training camp in Austria on a high.
Town line-up
Ryan Schofield (Joel Coleman, 46’); Terence Kongolo (Jaden Brown, 46’), Christopher Schindler (Jon Gorenc Stankovic, 46’), Tommy Elphick (Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 46’), Florent Hadergjonaj (Herbert Bockhorn, 46’); Jonathan Hogg (Moses Makasi, 46’), Lewis O’Brien (Aaron Mooy, 46’), Reece Brown (Matty Daly, 46’); Alex Pritchard (Rajiv van La Parra, 46’), Karlan Grant (Elias Kachunga, 46’), Adama Diakhaby (Josh Koroma, 46’)
