The anger over a highly flattering penalty for SV Elversberg spurred Hannover 96 on again – in the final spurt, 96 saved a 2-2 (1-1) in the top game on Friday evening (October 31, 2025).
Lukas Petkov had given Elversberg the lead in the 22nd minute, the equalizer came with an own goal by Florian Le Joncour two minutes before the break. Bambasé Conté (80′) then took advantage of a penalty miss to make it 2-1, before Virgil Ghita (5′) scored a well-deserved equalizer for Hannover.
“It’s a shame that we couldn’t reward ourselves in the end,” said Elversberg’s coach Vincent Wagner. “But we didn’t play against a blind team either; Hannover 96 is an extremely good team.”
Thomas Wollscheid, sports show, October 31, 2025 9:44 p.m
At the beginning, it was noticeable to the Elversberg team that there was some uncertainty after the surprisingly smooth 0-3 defeat of the cup at Hertha BSC. Hannover acted more clearly, more determinedly and had the first two good chances to score. After just under a quarter of an hour, Noel Aséko shot a meter past the post, Nicolas Kristof would have been powerless.
Bad luck at the post for Hannover
The SVE keeper was really lucky again two minutes later when Benjamin Källmann had already tipped the ball past the goalkeeper after Aséko’s pass – but the left post saved the goal for the SVE. Only after these two warning shots did Elversberg act more stable and was immediately rewarded.
Jan Gyamerah crossed perfectly into the center after a solo run down the right side, where no one paid attention to Petkov – who gave Nahuel Noll no chance with his header. Noll was almost beaten with SVE’s second chance a good ten minutes later, but with great difficulty he steered Petkov’s flutter ball over the crossbar from ten meters.
Le Joncour scores an own goal
It took Hannover a while to fight their way back into the game, but they regained the upper hand in the last five minutes of the first half. But first the cracker was blocked by Hayate Matsuda, then Kolja Oudenne failed twice – first keeper Kristof parried, then he chased the rebound over the crossbar from five meters.
But the SVE was unable to provide any relief until the break. The 96ers pushed the hosts completely onto the defensive, so the equalizer was almost inevitable: Källmann’s header after a strong cross from Oudenne was scratched away by Kristof just before the goal line, but ultimately punched the ball against the back of Le Joncour, who was thus classified as an own goal scorer.
Grotesque penalty puts SVE in the lead
In the second half it went back and forth, although the clear goal scenes became less frequent. In the 56th minute, Elversberg were very lucky not to fall behind: Enzo Leopold hit a free kick from 18 meters onto the crossbar.
And the SVE’s luck hadn’t run out yet. A good ten minutes before the end, Hannover’s Jannik Rochelt touched the back of Frederik Schmahl, who had just been substituted, and Schmahl ran a few meters through the penalty area before he sank theatrically to the ground. It was hard to believe that referee Timo Gerach pointed to the spot after this action despite having the best possible view of the scene – the fact that the VAR didn’t intervene made it even more grotesque. 96 coach Christian Titz was completely stunned on the sidelines, then was happy for a split second when Noll parried Petkov’s penalty. But Noll’s front men were asleep, Conté remained unimpressed and converted the follow-up shot from a tight angle to take the lead.
“We don’t even need to discuss the penalty. It clearly wasn’t a penalty. If we’re going to talk about something, it’s a yellow card for a swallow,” complained Titz after the game. “There was no contact.”
Thomas Wollscheid, sports show, October 31, 2025 9:59 p.m
Ghita scores – both teams stay ahead
But with a lot of anger in their stomachs, Hannover pulled themselves together for the final spurt and were rewarded: Ghita rose into the air after a classy cross from Leopold and heaved the header into the left corner. In the end, the equalizer was well deserved for the guests, meaning both teams remain in the top group.
Elversberg will be a guest at FC Schalke on Saturday lunchtime (1 p.m.). Hannover welcomes SV Darmstadt on Saturday afternoon (1:00 p.m.).