Hannover 96 are also dropping points in the promotion battle of the 2nd Bundesliga: against SV Elversberg, the 96ers only managed a draw because guest keeper Nicolas Kristof held strong and prepared the equalizer.
At 1:1 (1:0), an own goal by Maximilian Rohr (20th minute) put the hosts in the lead, the equalizer came with a penalty kick that Lukas Petkov converted (56th). The counterattack before the penalty was initiated by Kristof, who also had a top day in other respects.
Hannover’s Titz is annoyed about the penalty and Exploitation of opportunities
Hanover’s coach Christian Titz was annoyed in the Sportschau interview: “We had significantly more chances to score and could have put the game on our side with a second goal. With the, in my view, unjustified penalty that Elversberg converted, it will be a different game, but we can still win from the back. We would also have had to get a hand penalty, so you just have to look at the pictures.””
His Elversberg colleague Vincent Wagner analyzed: “It was a top game, what it said was there. We were a bit lucky at one point or another, but in the end we didn’t get the equalizer undeservedly. In the end it was a wild ride that could have gone either way.”
The game began with Hannover clearly predominant in midfield; ball possession in the first quarter of an hour was around 60 percent in favor of the hosts. However, the goal threat was kept within manageable limits, only a header from Benedikt Pichler in the 17th minute caused some excitement, but the ball just missed the goal.
Elversbergs Rohr with his second own goal
Three minutes later, Hannover’s Noël Aséko’s cross didn’t look particularly exciting, but Elversberg defender Rohr pushed the ball to his own inside post and from there over the line in a completely unsuccessful attempt to clear the ball. Bitter for Rohr and the SVE: It was already the fourth own goal of the current season, and for the unlucky raven it was the second goal into the wrong goal.
The Hanoverians had the chance to add their second goal in the 28th minute, but Stefán Pordarson fired a few centimeters over the crossbar from a distance.
Kristof keeps Elversberg in the race
There was little that was compelling offensively from Elversberg, and in the final minutes before the break it was only the excellent Kristof who kept the guests in the game: first he punched a hard shot from ex-Elversberger Maurice Neubauer from the left corner. Then, with a brilliant reflex, he directed Maik Nawrocki’s header over the goal from close range. Seconds before, things had almost become completely bizarre: Rohr was aiming for his own goal again, but this time Kristof was able to clear it for a corner.
While SVE coach Vincent Wagner still placed his trust in all players at the beginning of the second half, his 96 colleague Christian Titz made two changes despite the lead: Ime Okon and Husseyn Chakroun replaced Waniss Taibi and Pordarson. Nothing changed in terms of play at first: Hannover immediately put pressure on again, Kristof had to make the next top save in the 47th minute against the completely free Kolja Oudenne.
Penalty brings SVE the lucky equalizer
Seconds later, Kristof also assisted on the goal. After an intercepted corner, the keeper made the game quick with a 50-meter throw into the path of Immanuël Pherai, Pherai went alone to the 96 goal. Hannover’s Noel Aséko caught up with him, but then stumbled and hit his opponent in the ankle as he fell: Pherai had to be substituted injured, Petkov converted the penalty for a flattering equalizer.
But the hit had an impact – on both sides. Hannover lost the line a bit, Elversberg now bridged the midfield much faster and more determinedly, but apart from a header from David Mokawa after 71 minutes, nothing serious came to Nahuel Noll’s goal. But the SVE almost put themselves behind again: Kristof had already left his goal when a risky back pass from Rohr, but then quickly reversed and was just able to clear in front of Daisuke Yokota.
Hannover misses the chances to win
In the final phase, Hannover really put the pressure on again, but it wasn’t enough to score the winning goal: Chakroun had himself blocked from close range (85′), substitute top scorer Benjamin Källmann narrowly missed the goal seconds later, and then Neubauer, in the best position, didn’t hit the ball properly in added time.
Hanover in Darmstadt, Elversberg against Schalke
Hannover will be visiting SV Darmstadt in the second of three top games on Saturday evening (8.30 p.m.). Elversberg also welcomes FC Schalke 04 in a direct promotion duel on Sunday afternoon (1 p.m.).
