Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored twice for Hamburg SV to win 2-1 on Friday and leave Werder Bremen stuck in the Bundesliga relegation zone.
Lasogga struck in the fifth minute of the German league’s 104th northern derby, scoring at the back post after Nicolai Mueller shrugged off Papy Djilobodji’s weak challenge and sprinted toward goal before picking out Lasogga.
The home side nearly went further ahead in the 29th, when Felix Wiedwald pulled off a fine save to deny Michael Gregoritsch.
Photo: Reuters
There was little the goalkeeper could do to stop Lasogga claiming his second three minutes later, meeting Matthias Ostrzolek’s cross with a diving header.
Hamburg goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny had to produce a flying save to deny Bremen captain Clemens Fritz in the 41st minute.
Claudio Pizarro should have pulled one back with a penalty in the 57th, but Bremen’s top-scorer could only manage a weak shot, which Drobny saved.
Anthony Ujah then set up a frantic finale when he scored at the second attempt in the 65th, heading in the rebound after Drobny blocked his first effort.
Pizarro was just wide of the post in injury time.
“We had enough chances to turn the game around,” Fritz said.
Hamburg are all but safe after climbing to 10th ahead of the rest of the 31st round, six points clear of Bremen in the relegation-playoff place.
Both sides have three games remaining, while the other teams have four.
“It was a hugely intensive game,” Lasogga said. “It’s an enormously big step toward survival, a wonderful day.”
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