Hamburg have defeated Mainz 1-0 at home in the Bundesliga to enhance their chances of qualifying for Europe next season.
The hosts were in control of the match right from the start and could have pulled ahead in the 19th minute had Marcell Jansen's shot from outside the box not been saved by Christian Wetklo.
Three minutes later Andreas Ivanschitz came close to giving Mainz the lead with a header from a Zdenek Pospech cross.
Maximilian Beister tested Wetklo with a left-footed shot and minutes later Jansen saw his header saved by the Mainz goalkeeper.
Heung-Min Son took an attempt on goal at the start of the second half after being set up by Artjoms Rudnevs, but it went wide.
Beister and Rudnevs tried their luck just before the hour mark, but in vain.
Hamburg eventually scored what proved to be the winning goal in the end, and it came in the 63rd minute.
Beister drilled in a cross and Son slotted it home from close range.
Subhankar Mondal
