Goals from Bobby Wood and Lukas Hinterseer ensured that both Hamburger SV and FC Ingolstadt 04 would have to settle for a draw on the opening matchday of the Bundesliga season, in front of a packed out, vociferous crowd at the Volksparkstadion.
In a first half that die Schanzer dominated, it was Hamburg that took the lead as debutante Wood benefited from René Adler's long punt, before he beat Ørjan Nyland. Pascal Groß had previously gone closest, in what proved to be a scrappy affair throughout.
However, in a reversal in fortunes during the second half it was Ingolstadt's turn to benefit from a goal against the run of play as Lukas Hinterseer reacted quickest to deflect Cleber Reis' clearance into the back of the net, meaning Markus Kauczisnki's got off to life in the Bundesliga with a point.
Conservative selections
Both sides were in Saxony last weekend, and similarly both sides got their competitive seasons off to a winning start in the DFB Pokal; die Rothosen overcoming FSV Zwickau, whilst die Schanzer defeated Erzgebirge Aue on penalties.
Therefore both managers chose to stick with a winning formula and as a result there was only one new face between both sets of eleven. That came in the visitors ranks, as Romain Brégerie was preferred to summer signing from relegated Paderborn, Hauke Wahl. However two recent arrivals at the Volksparkstadion outfit, HSV, were afforded their Bundesliga debuts; Filip Kostić and Bobby Wood both in Bruno Labbadia's starting side.
Markus Kauczinski was a lot more conservative however, naming his entire eleven of players that were at the Audi Sportpark last season. Four of Ingolstadt's six major signings had to settle for a place on the bench including the aforementioned Wahl, a like for like replacement for the outgoing Benjamin Hübner, and highly rated Swiss starlet, Florent Hadergjonaj - of whom a lot is expected once he has settled into life in Bavaria.
Dream start for Bobby Wood
Whilst the selections provided both teams with continuity, it certainly did not lead to a thrilling start. In the toiling summer heat, both sides were happy to keep hold of the ball and slowly work themselves into the game and subsequently season.
However once both sides settled into the game, the first chance would fall the way of the visitors from Bavaria, FC Ingolstadt 04. Pascal Groß, usually the architect of attacks turned into the goal threat, as he received the ball from Tobias Levels' cross inside the box. With his back to goal the 25-year-old cruyff turned, leaving his marker Johan Djourou dumbstruck, before his powerful near post effort had to be palmed away for a corner by René Adler.
Earlier on Ingolstadt had tried a quick routine from a deep free-kick which unfortunately for Kauczinski's side had not come off, but HSV evidently hadn't caught on to it and when die Schanzer attempted it again Matthew Leckie found himself in a good position within the Hamburg 18-yard box.
However the home sides defenders had switched on and after the Australian skipped past Matthias Ostrzolek's attempted tackle, a combination of Cleber Reis and the aforementioned Djourou stopped Leckie's effort from going goal bound.
Die Rothosen's premier summer signing, Filip Kostić is expected to be the man who can take the Volksparkstadion side to the next level and after a quiet start, the Serbian had looked a lively threat throughout the first half. Indeed, his battle with Levels had proved a real battle between the Hamburg and Ingolstadt adversaries.
It came as no surprise then, when HSV fashioned their first chance courtesy of the former VfB Stuttgart man. Kostić racing down the left flank before crossing on a six-pence for Bobby Wood, who was only inches away from breaking the deadlock before Marvin Matip blocked Gideon Jung's follow up.
Yet Wood wouldn't have to wait long for another chance, and on the second occasion he didn't let Ingolstadt off the hook as he broke the deadlock on the half an hour mark. Straight from route one. Adler's goal kick missed everyone and the burly American forward held off the advances of Matip before he powered a low drilled effort beyond Ørjan Nyland, at his near post.
Whilst die Rothosen have made a number of high profile signings, namely the previously mentioned Kostić and Croatian talent Alen Halilović, it may be Wood that has the largest impact. Signed from 2. Bundesliga side, Union Berlin, the US international is perhaps the least well known of HSV's summer signings but he may prove a smart, and maybe the best, acquisition by Labbadia. Wood off to the perfect start in life in the Hanseatic city, as his well taken strike gave Hamburg their first goal of the game and season.
Ingolstadt threatened to pull level before the break, and they had a number of half chances to do so. First Alfredo Morales saw his header go over, before Levels flashed a deflected shot wide of the Hamburg goal. Die Schanzer learning a valuable lesson, something that also plagued them last year, that if you do not take your chances you will eventually be punished. Last terms worst goal scorers bar relegated Hannover 96, proving that the very same problem may haunt them again this season in what had been a wasteful first half to their Bundesliga season.
A story of two goals against the run of play
The second half started how the majority of the first had been played, with die Schanzer on top. However against what was a disciplined HSV defence, Ingolstadt were unable to fashion any clear cut chances and so the game seemed to ebb and flow by.
After twenty minutes of the subdued half, Bruno Labaddia decided enough was enough and in one fell swoop used all three of his substitutions at once. Amongst the changes, the highly anticipated Halilović was introduced however it was another substitute, Pierre Michel Lasogga, that nearly had an instant impact. The former Hertha BSC, brute of a striker, nearly latching on the end of a lofted through ball and then subsequently clattering and flattening, Nyland.
A key problem for Hamburger SV, was wastefulness in possession. One a number of counter attacks their attackers were guilty of surrendering the ball, when they were in very dangerous and promising positions. However as it appears Hamburg will adopt a counter attacking style, this is perhaps to be expected and at the same time they still caused Kauczinski's Ingolstadt a number of problems.
Labbadia's changes gave the impetus to die Rothosen, however just as Hamburg had scored against the run of play it was no Ingolstadt's turn to benefit from the same as the Bavarian club clawed themselves level with a little over ten minutes left on referees, Marco Fritz's, watch.
Tobias Levels whipped the ball in, after typically being found by Pascal Groß, and as the delivery landed in the 6 yard box Cleber cleared the ball with his left foot and the ball ricocheted off the opportunistic substitute Lukas Hinterseer and into the back of the net in a flash. Markus Kauczisnki and the traveling band of Schanzer fans sent into delirium by the equaliser, by the very same Austrian that equalised for Ingolstadt at the same venue last season.
Die Rothosen were nearly back infront moments later, but the side netting prevented Halilović's plucky effort from beating Nyland. Just the same as Ingolstadt in the first half, HSV had fell victim to wastefulness after not making the most of the pressure they had. It had been a game of two goals against the run of play.
With the Volksparkstadion crowd baying for a winner, die Rothosen pushed and exerted real pressure on the FC Ingolstadt 04 back four. However save for a mazzing Halilović run, the ever reliant Matip kept the defence steadfast and both sides would have to settle for a share of the spoils on the opening matchday of the season.