Holstein Kiel completed the best second division first half of the season in its history. The Schleswig-Holstein team deservedly won 3-0 (3-0) against Hannover 96 in a turbulent northern duel on Saturday evening.
With a double strike, Kiel took the lead in the middle of the first half. And both in the 1-0 by Timo Becker (26th) and in the 2-0 by Fiete Arp (27th) things had obviously happened too quickly for the guests. Shortly before the break, Arp made it 3-0 and thus secured the preliminary decision (45th). Loud cheers broke out three times from the 14,000 spectators. Otherwise, the organized fan scenes denied both teams verbal support for long stretches of the game because of the DFL’s investor deal.
It is clear that this did not do justice to coach Marcel Rapp’s team. The soaring of the “Storks”, who are also league leaders at least until FC St. Pauli’s last game of the first half of the season, is historic: With their eleventh win of the season, they have now 35 points, even exceeding the result of the near-promotions in 2018 and 2021. Hannover, which ended the game outnumbered, is now seven points behind third place.
Hannover starts powerfully – and is lucky
The Kiel team started the game confidently and with an offensive urge: just 90 seconds had been played when Shuto Machino forced guest keeper Ron-Robert Zieler to make the first save. But the initial phase clearly belonged to the Lower Saxony team, who increasingly put their stamp on the game. Derrick Köhn (10th) and Marcel Halstenberg (11th) narrowly missed the goal.
However, the KSV remained dangerous through quick transitions – including in the 19th minute. After a confusing action, referee Florian Exner decided on a penalty kick for the hosts. Hannover’s Enzo Leopold’s offense was undisputed, but the video assistant intervened because of an earlier offside position.
Arp puts together a double pack and has to go out injured
96 was able to breathe a sigh of relief, but then he was caught cold – twice. First Finn Porath sprinted down the left wing and crossed in front of the goal. Becker splashed the ball and made it 1-0 (26th). And just a minute later, the home team followed up. Lewis Holtby passed through to Arp, who left two opponents standing and scored against Zieler’s path.
And Kiel didn’t have enough: As with 1-0, a long ball was enough to crack Hannover’s defense. This time Becker chased down the line and found Arp with his cross, who only had to hold out his foot – 3-0 (45th). The native of Schleswig-Holstein underlined his outstanding form; it was his fourth goal in the last four games. However, the 23-year-old became a tragic hero because he injured his adductor area shortly before half-time.
Christiansen sees yellow-red – the VAR sees an offside goal
The Hanoverians at least showed a reaction after the restart. The guests approached the Kiel gate a few times again. However, the short period of urgency was interrupted by the yellow-red card for Max Christiansen, who had only been substituted at the break (66th).
And just two minutes later, the Schleswig-Holstein team celebrated another goal. 96 attacker Andreas Voglsammer shot the ball into the chest of Kiel’s Patrick Erras and from there it rolled over the line. So unusual, so clear. However, the action resulted in a VAR interruption lasting more than five minutes, at the end of which the referee team ruled the game offside. A decision that was anything but clear and one that the VAR did not want to make itself; Exner also had to go to the review area in the end.
And particularly bitter for everyone involved: the far too long interruption somehow pulled the plug on the game. It wasn’t until the final seconds that there were a few more chances to score, but Kiel’s team still managed a well-deserved 3-0 win, for whom the winter break wasn’t particularly convenient. But with five wins in a row, the mood under the Christmas tree could hardly be better.
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Sports club | 12/17/2023 | 11:35 p.m
