Wood deserved his reward, says Hamburg boss Titz after striker ends goal drought
Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA
Hamburg boss Christian Titz praised forward Bobby Wood after the United States international ended an eight-month goal drought in a potentially crucial 3-1 Bundesliga victory at relegation rivals Wolfsburg.
Wood scored in two of his first three games this season, but had not found the target since netting in a victory at Cologne on August 25.
However, the 25-year-old was a constant menace to the Wolfsburg defence and deservedly opened the scoring from the penalty spot two minutes before half-time.
Lewis Holtby headed a second in first-half stoppage time and, after Wolfsburg replied through Josip Brekalo’s free-kick, Gian-Luca Waldschmidthalf buried the rebound from Filip Kostic’s missed penalty to secure a third win in four games.
The result leaves Hamburg two points from safety with three games remaining, while Wolfsburg will join their opponents in the bottom three on Sunday should Mainz avoid defeat against RB Leipzig.
“I’m massively pleased for Bobby,” Titz said in quotes on Hamburg’s official Twitter feed.
“He has rewarded himself for how well he has trained in the last couple of weeks and he had two good chances before his goal too.
“That was a disjointed match from the off and we were pleased to get the two goals in quick succession before the break.
“This match was hugely important for both sides, but thankfully we have come out on top.
“We knew that the Wolfsburg would throw everything forward in the second half and we wanted to counter-attack.
“I have to compliment my team, because that was a tough game and I’m glad we finally won. ”
The Wolves had failed to score in five of their last six Bundesliga games and Divock Origi fired their first chance wide.
At the other end Wood fired over before forcing a save from home goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Wood saw a volley deflected away and a header sail over either side of Gideon Jung’s header being hacked behind for a corner as the visitors began to impose themselves.
And they went ahead after 42 minutes when Josuha Guilavogui conceded a penalty with a rash challenge and Wood beat Casteels from the spot.
Holtby doubled Hamburg’s advantage as the former Tottenham forward headed home Tatsuya Ito’s cross.
Wolfsburg pressed after the break and with 12 minutes left Brekalo set up an exciting finish by firing in a free-kick.
Bakery Jatta missed two late chances for Hamburg and Kostic saw a stoppage-time penalty saved before Waldschmidt converted the rebound.
Wolfsburg manager Bruno Labbadia admitted conceding twice on the stroke of half-time had cost his side.
“In the first half we had chances,” he told the club’s official website.
“What we missed and what made HSV better was the way they took their chances.
“We simply did not make enough of when we had the ball, then the double blow of Hamburg brutally hurt.”
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