Hamburg’s thrilling 3–2 home win over Union Berlin was packed with drama, but one moment before the break summed up why Jordan Torunarigha is quickly becoming one of the team’s most trusted players, Footynaija reports.
With the match finely balanced, a loose clearance from goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes gifted Union forward Andrej Ilic a clear sight of goal. Just as it looked certain Hamburg would concede, Torunarigha came charging back at full speed. His pressure was enough to throw the striker off balance, stopping him from getting a clean strike and turning a near-disaster into a vital escape.
Moments later, Hamburg punished Union at the other end. The quick transition ended with Nicolás Capaldo finishing calmly to put the hosts ahead going into half-time, a swing that proved crucial in the final outcome.
Jordan Torunarigha Hamburg (Update) pic.twitter.com/tBmNYW2vAI
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After the match, Hamburg coach Merlin Polzin could hardly hide his admiration for the Nigerian defender’s effort.
“He created more pressure than he defended, but that definitely speaks volumes for Jordan and his mentality of making the run even when it seems hopeless,” Polzin said as reported by Mopo. “You don’t want that breathing down your neck.”
The numbers back up the praise. Torunarigha has won over two-thirds of his duels this season, placing him just behind Croatian centre-back Mario Vuskovic in the squad rankings. His passing accuracy also sits at an impressive 83 percent, again level with Mario Vuskovic, showing he is just as reliable on the ball as he is in defence.
He has also been one of Hamburg’s most involved players, recording more touches than almost anyone else, with only Luka Vuskovic, Miro Muheim, Heuer Fernandes, Nicolai Remberg and Capaldo seeing more of the ball.
For Hamburg, Torunarigha’s mix of speed, strength and hunger is fast becoming a major weapon, and performances like this show exactly why.


















