Lauth leads the way

By Mark Bennett

Two goals from Benjamin Lauth and a further strike from Rafael van der Vaart gave Hamburger SV a 3-0 win against SK Sigma Olomouc to book a place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup final against Valencia CF.

Youthful combination
With Hamburg already having won 1-0 in the Czech Republic last week, Lauth opened the scoring tonight with a tap-in on the half-hour mark after Van der Vaart had seen his shot turned away. Eleven minutes into the second half the German international returned the favour by setting up the former AFC Ajax midfielder's goal. Lauth proved his form once again nine minutes from time, intercepting Tomáš Lovásik's mis-timed goal-kick and slotting in his second goal of the evening.

Early pressure
But it was Van der Vaart that posed the biggest threat to the Czech side's defence early on as Hamburg made a strong start, pressing to add to the one-goal lead they took from the first leg. On five minutes Bastian Reinhardt met the Dutch international's cross, only to see his attempt cleared by the defence. Van der Vaart tried to go alone on seven minutes but could not add shooting accuracy to dribbling guile and the goalkeeper was not tested.

Lauth chip
The visitors managed to ride the early pressure but just as they began to enjoy some sustained periods of possession, Olomouc fell behind. Van der Vaart's shot was goal-bound this time and his shot was blocked by Lovásik, but only as far as Lauth who adroitly chipped the ball over the custodian before slotting in.

Van der Vaart strike
Buoyed by the two-goal cushion, Hamburg began to dictate the match before stepping up a gear in the opening minutes of the second half. On 56 minutes Lauth turned provider when he found Van der Vaart on the edge of the area, whose left-footed shot gave Lovásik no chance.

Gifted goal
Two minutes later the Dutch international left the field to a standing ovation from the crowd, with Stefan Beinlich replacing him and the substitution did not alter the flow of the game, although they lacked the same edge going forward. None the less, the home side completed an easy 4-0 aggregate win nine minutes from the final whistle when Lovásik's goal-kick landed at Lauth's feet and the 23-year-old gladly accepted the gift.

Valencia task
Hamburg may find Valencia, whom they face in the final, far more difficult. The first leg will be in Germany on 9 August before travelling to Spain a fortnight later.