Die Rothosen, looking to maintain their top flight status for another season, were the better side in the opening exchanges. Skipper Nicolás Capaldo created the first opportunity of the game when he tried to pick out a teammate in the box, but Michael Zetterer was there to get a hand on the cross.
Can Uzun was a thorn in Hamburg’s tail as he tried to get his side on the board. He first tested Daniel Heuer Fernandes 15 minutes in, but the Brazilian was equal to it.
The Turkish international then created space later in the half to get a better chance on goal, but Heuer Fernandes - who has not kept a clean sheet since February - thwarted his effort. Hamburg rallied with HT approaching but could not break the deadlock as Albert Sambi Lokonga tested Zetterer, while Bakery Jatta’s effort hit the crossbar.
The goals arrived quickly in the second half as Uzun finally got on the scoresheet. A sloppy giveaway in the defensive third from Hamburg allowed Jonathan Burkardt to play in his teammate, who beat Heuer Fernandes.
The lead barely lasted two minutes, however, as Die Rothosen responded on the second phase of a corner, when the ball fell to Albert Grønbæk, who hit a low shot into the back of the net. By the hour mark, the away side completed the turnaround as Grønbæk played in Vieira with a delightful ball, and the Portuguese midfielder showed great control before firing past Zetterer.
Die Adler, still chasing European football for next term, made a triple change with hopes of finding their way back into the match.
An effort from Younes Ebnoutalib was kept out by Heuer Fernandes at the beginning of stoppage time in what was their last attempt, meaning Albert Riera’s side, who finished the match with 10 men due to Rasmus Kristensen’s two yellow cards, have now won just once in their last six league games.
They stay in seventh spot for now, but could be overtaken by Freiburg by the end of the round. For Hamburg, victory ends the run of three consecutive defeats on the road, and Merlin Polzin’s side can no longer be directly relegated, and can officially secure their safety if St. Pauli fail to win.