Freiburg's first-half surge sees off HSV

Julian Schuster's side paved the way to the last 16 of the DfB Pokal this evening with a hard-earned victory over Hamburg this evening. At times they didn't have it entirely their own way, but their individual quality told as HSV struggled to keep pace with their Bundesliga opponents for periods of the game. 

Mateo Raab was kept on his toes early on as the shot-stopper did well to react after Lukas Kübler's deflected shot. However it wasn't long before the German had to pull the ball out of his own net - Vincenzo Grifo delivered the perfect set-piece for Mathias Ginter to climb above Reis and power home. A penalty before half-time enabled the Breisgauers to double their lead when Elfadli felled Eggestein. Grifo made no mistake from the spot. 

HSV managed to reduce the arrears in the 51st-minute which offered them a glimmer of hope. Muheim's corner from the right fell to Meffert who managed to wriggle free from Lienhart's attention to beat Florian Müller. Freiburg could've extended their lead after the hour but for Poreba's heroic block to deny Gregoritsch who looked destined to convert. Ultimately, the first-half damage was done as Freiburg march on.