After controlling the first half without scoring, some of the Hamburg SV support may have been concerned that their side would be made to pay for that profligacy in the second forty-five minutes. However, their fears haven't been realized as the home side have taken a 1-0 lead with just over twenty minutes to play courtesy of half-time substitute Mladen Petric. The Croatian international replaced Jonathan Pitroipa, who had been bossing the game in the first half, because of an injury at the interval.
Petric's goal came at the end of a long passing move from HSV, which started down their left before Heiko Westermann hit a long crossfield ball out to Änis Ben-Hatira, who was playing wide on the right. Ben-Hatira, making just his second start of the season, measured a great cross to find Petric, who slid to tap the ball in at the back post. Frankfurt have tried to respond a bit since the goal, but have not created any good opportunities and HSV still hold a very well-deserved lead.