4/2/2006
hsv.de

The visitors from East-Westfalia score an early goal against harmless and tardy Hannover through forward Fatmir Vata (5min). The Reds never recover and lose at home 0-1 (0-1) despite late attempts for an equalizer before time. Disappointed home supporters vent their anger at players even before the interval.

Hannover's head coach Peter Neururer was forced to change both wing-backs on his team sheet. Vinicius replaced Michael Tarnat (fifth-yellow suspension) on the left, Silvio Schroeter substituted injured American international Steven Cherundolo on the right. Host coach Thomas von Heesen had to make do without two top strikers, Ghanaian Isaac Boakye and South African Sibusiso Zuma. Heesen substituted injured centre-back Marcio Borges with Czech Petr Gabriel, Albanian Fatmir Vata was able to play despite flu.

Vata should have stayed home on sick-leave, as the short Albanian shakes Hannover's complacent defence lines and scores five mere minutes into the match. Ioannis Masmanidis plays one-two with Polish Artur Wichniarek and sends a sharp left cross into Hannover's area from the left penalty area line. Dariusz Zuraw fails to intercept, the cross lands with Fatmir Vata at the far post, who fools Vinicius and shoves the ball past Robert Enke into the left corner of the net (5min).

The Reds are shocked, and need about 15 minutes to recover. Their first on-goal attempt through Vahid Hashemian from 18 metres goes wide of the right post. Bielefeld meanwhile are busy to secure the lead and have a free kick through Bernd Korzynietz that misses the left post (34min). Hannover have one opportunity through Jiri Stajner's header from Hashemian's left cross (43min). No further attempts to level the result are awarded with angry disappointed whistles from the home crowds at half-time.

Half-Time 0:1

Bielefeld emerge from the break unruffled. Hannover's head coach Neururer replaces yellow-carded Albanian captain Altin Lala with Portuguese Ricardo Sousa. The substitution seems to lift the spirit of the home side, but the effect is short-lived. Bielefeld have easy possession through Hannover's sloppy passing. The visitors create opportunities through Wichniarek's volley shot (56min) and substitute Roberto Pinto's attempt that Vinicius luckily deflects to a corner (74min). Bielefeld's keeper Mathias Hain has a lazy Sunday afternoon up until Thomas Brdaric tries him with a header that Hain parries to a corner (85min). Hannover suddenly wake to a start and rush forward for the equalizer. Per Mertesacker's through-ball reaches Sousa, but the Portuguese shows some nerves when misplacing his left-footed attempt past the far left post (86min). In injury time Sousa's high left lob finds Mertesacker in goalmouth, but the German international heads the ball from four metres just over the crossbar (90+2min).

Bielefeld beat Hannover deservedly, and gain three important points to soothe their relegation fears. The Reds may have to bury their ambitions to enter any international contest after their poor performance. Most players on the pitch acted like shadows of their former selves against tactically skilful visitors. It is Hannover's second consecutive defeat after last week's devastating 0-5 in Bremen.

STATISTICS

Hannover 96: Enke – Schroeter, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius – Lala – Balitsch, Dabrowski – Stajner – Hashemian, Brdaric – Coach: Neururer

Arminia Bielefeld: Hain – Korzynietz, Westermann, Gabriel, Schuler – Fink, Kauf, Kucera – Vata, Masmanidis – Wichniarek – Coach: von Heesen

Goals: 0:1 Vata (5th, left shot, assist by Masmanidis)

Substitutions:
46. Ricardo Sousa for Lala,
66. Delura for Hashemian,
83. Stendel for Vinicius
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70. Pinto for Wichniarek,
82. Dalovic for Vata,
89. D. Kobylik for Masmanidis

Referee: Wack, Dr.
Attendance: 34,361
Bookings: Dabrowski, Lala