3/18/2006
hannover.de

Hannover celebrate today's 1-0 (1-0) victory against 1. FC Cologne after four consecutive matches without triumph. Harmless Cologne, though threatened with relegation in bottom-of-the-table position, never put up a real fight against the Reds. Hannover secure their home win with a goal through Iranian international Vahid Hashemian in the 39th minute. 96 climb to 6th position in the Bundesliga table, keeping their 'international option' open. Supporters cheer forward Daniel Stendel, who returns to the pitch after an eleven-months injury break.

Head coach Peter Neururer saw no reason for changes to the Hannovarian lineup after last week's goalless Duisburg draw. Quite on the contrary Cologne's Swiss head coach Hanspeter Latour. He ordered a complete reshuffle to his relegation-threatened squad: suspended Marco Streller and Christian Lell both absent, indisposed star striker German international Lukas Podolski on the bench, the struggling Swiss called to arms Sinkiewicz, Springer, Schindzielorz, Szabics, Scherz…and Brazilian Evanilson. The former Dortmund defender debuting for the league climber, while Cullmann, Zivkovic and Grammozis dropped to the bench.

Hannover dominate possession and the match right from the starting whistle. The Reds create opportunities galore, but fail to capitalise from their glaring superiority for most of the first half. Thomas Brdaric picks up Jiri Staner's left cross, shakes off marker Sinkiewicz, but his header from 10 metres goes wide of the right post (5min). Little later Steven Cherundolo's long ball across the pitch finds the same Brdaric at the edge of the area, but the German forward cannot benefit from Alexander Bade's mistake. The Cologne keeper has left his post too early for the advancing Brdaric, who sends his daring shot from 16 metres flying over the crossbar (12min). Hashemian's cross finds left wing-back Michael Tarnat, who rids himself of Alpay and Matip, but his pivoting left-footer from 11 metres is denied by alert Cologne keeper Bade (19min). Brdaric's header from promising position goes wide (20min). Right-back defender Steven Cherundolo is denied by Bade, who saves the American international's forceful free kick (25min). Per Mertesacker's header from Stajner's cross drips onto the goal top (35min). Christoph Dabrowski is home alone with Bade in point-blank range, but aims the ball straight for the keepers saving arms (38min). The crowd of well over 37,000 groan in agony faced with Hannover's inability to convert. But only seconds later the tension is relieved: Tarnat starts down the left and crosses; Evanilson's botched defensive header lands at Stajner's feet; the Czech forward immediately helps the ball on to Brdaric, approaching goalmouth, but Bade parries the striker's hard level shot. The rebound ricochets off to Vahid Hashemian on the right corner of the keeper's box, and the Iranian hammers the ball into the net in an explosive release of tension and frustration (39min). Cologne have their only real opportunity before the interval through unmarked Evanilson, who misses the left post from 12 metres with a pathetic effort (42min). Shortly after it's the break, the home side savouring their highly deserved lead.

H-T 1:0

The lead far from being comfortable, Hannover dominate play and possession after the break, but slow their pace. Brdaric almost converts a clumsy Cologne defensive header from the left edge of the keeper's box, but again Bade is on his toes (53min). Five minutes later the Reds are nearly punished for their slapdash on-target actions: Evanilson crosses to unmarked Swiss international Ricardo Cabanas, who sends his effort from ten metres wide (58min). An absence of highlights for the next 20 minutes, as Cologne shows no signs of pricking up their ears. The hosts launch their final offensive towards the very end of the match. Stajner's header from six metres from Hanno Balitsch's right cross brushes the crossbar (82min), Dabrowski misses target after combined play involving substitute Silvio Schroeter and Tarnat from 11 metres (84min). Balitsch lobs Mertesacker's through-ball over the Cologne keeper from a tight left angle, but Matthias Scherz scrapes the ball from the line (86min). Substitute Thomas Christiansen is advancing fast on Bade, about to wrap up the game in its last minute, but the forward's shot from 13 metres is denied by the keeper's reflex save. A home victory, but not an unchallenged one.

Cologne's disappointing performance aside, the final result was highly deserved for 96. But the outcome of today's fixture could have been much more favourable for the Reds with a bit more determination and care. Three points keep Hannover's UEFA Cup aspirations simmering, and supporters celebrate the home victory along with Daniel Stendel's return to the pitch after a long troublesome injury break.

Hannover 96: Enke РCherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat РBalitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Stajner (90. Stendel) РHashemian (77. Schr̦ter), Brdaric (69. Christiansen)

FC Cologne: Bade – Alpay, Sinkiewicz, Matip – Springer (81. Epstein), Cabanas, Schindzielorz (56. Grammozis), Evanilson, Streit – Scherz, Szabics (56. Podolski)

Goals: 1:0 Hashemian (39., Brdaric)
Bookings: Dabrowski / Schindzielorz, Szabics
Referee: Günter Perl (Munich)
Attendance: 37,214