Hamburger SV End Three-Game Losing Run with 2-1 Win over Köln

Hamburger SV take first points of the season

Hamburger SV defeated 1. FC Köln 2-1 at Volksparkstadion, Hamburger, on Saturday, September 19, 2026. The result gave HSV their first Bundesliga victory of the regular season after three consecutive defeats. Köln pushed for an equaliser late, but Ragnar Ache’s 90th-minute goal was not enough to change the outcome.

Capaldo and Poulsen put HSV in control

Hamburger SV took the lead shortly before half-time. Nicolás Capaldo finished in the 44th minute after a pass from Albert Grönbaek, sending the hosts into the interval 1-0 ahead.

HSV doubled their advantage four minutes after the restart. Yussuf Poulsen scored in the 49th minute, again with Grönbaek providing the assist. Poulsen had entered at half-time for Terem Moffi and made an immediate impact, recording two shots on target during his 44 minutes on the pitch.

Köln reduced the deficit in the 90th minute when Ache converted Ellyes Skhiri’s assist. Ache had come on in the 64th minute for Thijs Dallinga and registered one shot on target, but Köln could not find a second goal before full-time.

Köln had more of the ball but fell short

The statistics showed a more active Köln attack than the scoreline suggested. The visitors held 55% possession, completed 499 accurate passes compared with HSV’s 202, and attempted 18 shots to the hosts’ 12. Köln also had 12 shots from inside the box, while Hamburger SV had seven.

HSV were more efficient with their opportunities. They put seven shots on goal, two more than Köln, and converted enough of those chances to secure the win. Köln goalkeeper M. Schwäbe made five saves, while Hamburger SV goalkeeper saves numbered four. The figures indicate that Köln applied sustained pressure, but HSV delivered the decisive finishing in both halves.

Cards and substitutions shape the closing stages

Albert Grönbaek was booked in the 10th minute, while Köln collected three yellow cards: Gideon Mensah in the 54th minute, Ísak Bergmann Jóhannesson in the 77th, and Skhiri in the 84th. There were no red cards. Both coaches used substitutions to alter the match, including HSV’s changes involving Grönbaek and David Moller Wolfe and Köln’s introductions of Borna Sosa, Ache and Jóhannesson.

Result changes both teams’ records

The victory ends Hamburger SV’s run of three straight losses and gives them three points after four league matches, improving their position from the bottom of the table before kick-off. Köln, who started the day 12th with four points from three games, remain on four points after moving to one win, one draw and two defeats. Grönbaek was the standout performer, earning an 8.3 rating with two assists and three key passes.