Hamburger SV cleared the first hurdle in the DFB-Pokal when the North German outfit won 3-0 (1-0) on Monday evening away at third-division side SC Verl. This means HSV have now reached the second round for the sixth time in a row.
Albert Gronbaek (41', 46') and Louis Lemke (50') scored the goals for the visitors, who initially struggled for long stretches in the first half. HSV will find out their second-round opponent in the draw on 5 September, with matches to be played on October 27 and 28.
Verl had started the new 3. Liga Liga season with two clear defeats, but HSV coach Merlin Polzin still warned about the opponent before the match: "It's a team that wants to have the ball, that wants to play. We've prepared in detail to be up to the task," he told Sky. Polzin started three new signings in the starting eleven: Sebastiaan Bornauw, Martin Adeline and Patson Daka.
In memory of the late club patron Klaus-Michael Kühne, the HSV players wore black armbands, but in the sold-out Sportclub-Arena with 5,207 spectators, they initially found it tough going. The first attacking moves came from the underdogs, with a long-range shot from Mika Clausen (13') only narrowly missing the target. Verl continued to come close to taking the lead several times after that.
It took 31 minutes for the Rothosen to register their first shot on goal, and only towards the end of the first half did the favorites pick up the pace a bit—and were immediately rewarded when Gronbaek kept his cool one-on-one with Verl keeper Timo Schliek.
Right after the restart, the Dane was in the spotlight again when he doubled HSV's lead after searching down the left flank. Shortly after, the just 16-year-old Lemke made things clear. The visitors then managed to preserve their lead without any major problems.