One week after Merlin Polzin insisted that Hamburg could take tangible signs of progress from a second consecutive 5-0 Bundesliga defeat , the 35-year-old finally watched his side turn some of that optimism into points. Hamburger SV defeated 1. FC Cologne 2-1 at the Volksparkstadion on Saturday, ending a disastrous start to the new campaign with both their first Bundesliga goals and first league victory of the season.

The breakthrough arrived at an especially significant moment for Polzin. Hamburg entered the fixture having conceded 12 unanswered goals through three matches, yet nevertheless chose Friday to hand their young head coach and his staff new contracts . One day later, the decision looked considerably less uncomfortable.

Saturday’s opening half hardly suggested that HSV were about to turn the corner. Cologne dominated possession, repeatedly created chances and forced Daniel Heuer Fernandes into several important saves. Polzin’s side nevertheless survived and eventually produced the sort of sequence their trainer could point toward as evidence of work done during the week.

Albert Sambi Lokonga released David Møller Wolfe down the left before the Norwegian’s run earned a corner. Albert Grønbæk delivered the ensuing set piece and Nicolas Capaldo rose highest to head home HSV’s first Bundesliga goal of the season shortly before halftime. The timing changed the atmosphere immediately.

Polzin had spoken repeatedly after the Leipzig defeat about the need for his team to retain belief and remain united despite brutal results. HSV emerged for the second half with considerably greater confidence and required only five minutes to double the advantage. The second goal also supplied Polzin with immediate vindication for his halftime change. Yussuf Poulsen replaced Terem Moffi and promptly finished a sharp transition move after Møller Wolfe released Grønbæk down the left.

Poulsen’s goal proved decisive. Cologne continued to create opportunities and Said El Mala remained particularly troublesome, but Heuer Fernandes and the HSV defense protected the advantage until Ragnar Ache finally pulled one back in the 90th minute. This time, there would be no collapse.

Hamburg Board Member for Sport Kathleen Krüger admitted afterwards that the tension surrounding the fixture had been impossible to ignore. Krüger nevertheless stressed that Friday’s decision to extend Polzin had never depended upon what happened against Cologne. HSV’s evaluation of their coach stretches back to the beginning of his tenure, encompassing promotion, Bundesliga survival and the broader development of the team.

That position closely mirrored Polzin’s own response to the crisis.