Hamburg survive scare from Anderlecht to progress in Europe

German Bundesliga club Hamburg SV have survived a scare in Belgium to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a 6-5 aggregate over Anderlecht.

After the first leg in Germany which the home side won 3-1, Belgian outfit Anderlecht looked as though they would surely be knocked out when Jerome Boateng put Hamburg 1-0 up on the night in the 42nd minute and 4-1 ahead on aggregate.

But the Belgians struck back two minutes later through Romelu Lukaku and then took the lead a minute later when Matias Suarez converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time. That goal made it 2-1 to Anderlecht in the second leg but Hamburg still held a slender 4-3 lead overall.

That soon changed when Hamburg’s Marcell Jansen equalised nine minutes after the break but the match took another twist when Lucas Biglia put Anderlecht ahead once again five minutes later.

Then, in the 66th minute, the aggregate went to 5-5 when Anderlecht’s Mbark Boussoufa netted although the Germans had an advantage on away goals.

But that rules was not required 15 minutes from time when Hamburg’s Mladen Petric struck to make it 4-3 on the night to Anderlecht but 6-5 on aggregate to the Germans, sending them into the final eight in dramatic circumstances.