HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — two of Bayer Leverkusen’s The young players worked together to score a breakthrough goal and beat Hamburger SV 1-0. Bundesliga Backing the team’s fading challenge on Wednesday champions league Qualifications.
Leverkusen had a frustrating game, with a goal ruled out for handball and a penalty decision overturned by video review, but 20-year-old midfielder Ibrahim Maza and 19-year-old forward Christian Kofane combined to score the only goal in the 73rd minute.
Maza attracted the Hamburg players and flicked the ball to Kofane, who scored into the top left corner.
Hamburg’s young star Luka Vuskovic threw his boot on the bench in frustration after the game. The 19-year-old defender, on loan from Tottenham, had a shot blocked by Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Vlasovic in the dying seconds and headed the rebound onto the crossbar. Hamburg are in 11th place without a win in three games.
Leverkusen remained in 6th place in the Bundesliga, but narrowed the gap to 4th place Stuttgart, the last place to qualify for the Champions League, to three points.
Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjurmand made five changes to his squad, partly due to injuries, and handed the 18-year-old German-American winger his first start for the first team. Montrell Culbrethplayed 80 minutes.
The match was originally scheduled to take place in January, but was rescheduled after the roof of Hamburg’s stadium collapsed. suffered structural damage After a heavy snowfall, urgent repairs were needed.
The victory over Hamburg was part of a crucial run for Leverkusen, who face Arsenal in the Champions League round of 16 next week and, despite winning one of their last four Bundesliga games up to Wednesday, are struggling to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
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