Wolfsburg prevailed 2-1 over Hamburg in their Bundesliga clash on Friday night, the match further threatening Hamburg with an unprecedented relegation to the second division.

Wolfsburg got off to the best of starts in the second half, netting the opening goal of the game after only 20 seconds when Mario Mandzukic was on hand at the back post to head in a long cross from Ashkan Dejagah down the right flank.

But Hamburg hit back less than two minutes later with a technically marvelous goal from Marcus Berg - his first of the season. The Swede ran on to a long ball down the left from Heiko Westermann, took one touch, promoted the bouncing ball into the perfect position with his chest and lobbed Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benaglio with aplomb.

Wolfsburg's lead was restored by former international Marcel Schäfer in the 75th minute, shooting a free kick under goalie Jaroslav Drobny's body. The win, Wolfsburg's third in a row, moves the 2009 champions up a spot on the Bundesliga ladder with 37 points to 8th place.

'Unlucky' loss

"Our performance was really good, we were unlucky to lose," said Hamburg coach Thorsten Fink, whose side has claimed only one point from its last five games. "The team embraced the fight. I'm confident that we'll come out of our rut."

Hamburg's Germany wing-back Dennis Aogo, agreed, saying his team "showed a lot of dedication, but we conceded goals that shouldn't happen."

Hamburg remains stuck in 14th position, just two points above the relegation zone. The team has never played in the lower division since the introduction of the Bundesliga in 1963.

Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath said his team "earned the win. This victory makes us very happy."

Saturday's games see Werder Bremen host Augsburg, Hertha Berlin travel to Mainz, Bayern against Hanover, Freiburg meet cellar dweller Kaiserslautern, Borussia Mönchengladbach play Hoffenheim and Schalke entertain Bayer Leverkusen.

Author: Darren Mara / acb
Editor: Martin Kuebler