Cologne head coach René Wagner cut a frustrated figure after Saturday’s 2-1 defeat away at Hamburger SV , lamenting a performance that produced enough chances to win but ultimately yielded nothing. Cologne controlled long stretches at the Volksparkstadion, finished with 68 percent possession and registered 18 shots. A dominant first half nevertheless yielded no goals.

Nicolas Capaldo’s header shortly before halftime and Yussuf Poulsen’s strike immediately after the restart left Wagner’s side chasing a two-goal deficit. Ragnar Ache eventually pulled one back in the 90th minute, but the late response arrived too late. Some whistles could be heard after full time from traveling supporters of the cathedral city club.

“It hurts a great deal,” Wagner noted in his opening statement at the post-match press conference. “We played a good game. I think we had a great opportunity to win a Bundesliga match today. We lost a game against a very efficient team today. My disappointment is great. The lads gave it all today until the very end. We couldn’t reward ourselves for a good performance.”

The frustration was understandable. Hamburg entered the match without a point or goal through the opening three Bundesliga fixtures and initially struggled badly against Wagner’s side. Cologne repeatedly worked their way into dangerous positions during the first half, with Said El Mala, Mikey Moore and Thijs Dallinga all threatening.

HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes produced several important saves, including an excellent stop from Dallinga’s close-range header. Cologne’s failure to make their pressure count proved costly. Matters became exceedingly difficult for die Geißböcke after they fell 0-2 behind. The club professionals acknowledged as much.

“We can only be dissatisfied,” Tom Krauß told Sky Germany after the match. “Once again, we didn’t defend a set piece well. Up until then, I don’t think we’d allowed them anything at all. Setbacks like that are very difficult. In the end, we deserved to lose as well because Hamburg were there in the decisive moments.”

Marvin Schwäbe reached a similar conclusion.

“We conceded goals at extremely unfavorable moments,” the Cologne goalkeeper said in the mixed zone. “We had chance after chance, then we concede just before halftime. It went terribly. We can’t allow ourselves this kind of up-and-down performance. You get punished immediately for that, so we have to work through it.”