HAMBURG UP TO SECOND

Sportinglife - Mehdi Mahdavikia's seventh minute strike was all Hamburg needed to beat road-weary Mainz on Saturday, a result which lifted them to second in the table.

With Werder Bremen being upset at home against bottom side Kaiserslautern, Hamburg took advantage to go into second spot.

Bremen's defeat looks to have all but locked up the German title for Bayern Munich, who are seven points of Hamburg with a game in hand.

Going into the clash, Hamburg had won five consecutive at their own ground and it seemed unlikely that Mainz would spring the upset as they are the league's worst team away from home.

They had taken just one point in their previous six matches on the road.

Hamburg began in attacking mode and were soon dominating.

Mahdavikia struck after picking the ball up 20 yards out and running through a static Mainz defence before hitting the ball over advancing keeper Christian Wetklo.

That put the home side in control, with the visitors fighting just to stay in the contest.

Mainz had their first real chance in the 29th minute when Antonio Da Silva smashed a 30-yard free-kick over the bar.

The visitors' best opportunity of the half arrived when Da Silva put a free-kick into the danger area from the right and Benjamin Wiegelt hit the ball across the goal for Milorad Pekovic but he spurned the chance, sending the ball over when he should have scored.

After nearly letting their lead slip, Hamburg tightened up and went in at half-time without pressing further.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half passed without incident as both teams seemed reluctant to press for the advantage.

Benjamin Lauth nearly won Hamburg a penalty in the 66th minute when he fell under a challenge from Wiegelt but the referee ruled the home striker had simply lost his footing.

Nevertheless, Hamburg continued to control the match without producing any clear cut chances with Mainz finding it difficult to break out.

Naohiro Takahara looked to have doubled the lead for Hamburg 10 minutes from the end when he had the ball in the back of the net from five yards, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on keeper Wetklo.

Hamburg ran the clock down for a welcomed and deserved three points.