Hamburger SV (HSV) head coach Merlin Polzin has revealed that he is keen to give Nigerian striker Terem Moffi more minutes after the forward came on as Patson Daka’s understudy in their 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the German Bundesliga.

He also acknowledged that his side failed to turn up in the first half and needs to replicate their second-half performance throughout an entire match.

HSV paid a visit to Dortmund’s Signal Iduna Park for their opening match of the 2026-27 Bundesliga campaign on Saturday.

Serhou Guirassy put the hosts in front with a glorious goal just nine minutes in. He played a series of passes with Konstantinos Keratsas before hoodwinking a defender and firing the ball into the far corner.

Keratsas was at it again, forcing an own goal in the closing stages of the first half to make it 2-0, rewarding Dortmund for their utter domination.

The visitors turned up the gears in the second half after failing to register a single shot in comparison to Dortmund’s 14 in the first half.

Daka had two good chances to make it count but did not make the most of them.

The Zambian striker came close to scoring in the 67th minute, but his attempt hit the crossbar. Moffi nearly grabbed a lifeline after coming on for Daka.

“Too passive” – Polzin.

The home side maintained their 2-0 lead despite pressure by HSV throughout the second half.

HSV coach Polzin highlighted in a post-match interview, “I think it was clear to see that we played much better in the second half than in the first half. We were too passive in the first half. We played the second half with a lot of courage, with more risk in defending when it comes to pressing moments.”

“And that is what we take away from today, that we showed a face for 45 minutes that I can identify with very much, but not for 90 minutes.”

HSV bolstered their attack this transfer window with the signing of strikers Daka and Moffi. On July 22, the German club signed Daka as a free agent after he left Leicester City, a club he spent the last five years at. Just over a month later, Moffi was brought in for €2 million from French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.

When quizzed about Moffi’s contribution against Dortmund, Polzin replied, “Terem [Moffi] has already shown and implemented the things we expect from him: someone who can hold up the ball upfront, assert himself in moments when we win the ball back, and make runs in behind.”

“So it’s not just the potential but the conviction behind the decision to sign him. We are definitely keen to gradually give him more playing time. That will depend on his performances in training and on what he hasn’t yet been able to show us during preparations,” the gaffer added.

Polzin concluded, “But it’s clear we signed him [Moffi] precisely to see these kinds of moments. He had an immediate impact on the game.”

HSV will host Mainz 05 at the Volksparkstadion on September 6.

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