The positive parts beforehand: Hannover stood in the defense against Stuttgart ok. And else? No ideas, no vigorously offense, but much to do for Ewald Lienen in the next week's against the competitor's.

One point and just one conceded goal against the top team's Bremen and Stuttgart - the result from that 2 games were better than expected. But: the performance against Stuttgart seemed even for the Realistic's as a warning.

Lienen said: "We showed not enough passion, and we didn't deserve anymore". That was the first negative summary, that Lienen did after his seventh game. At his first loss againt Kaiserslautern the performance and getting chances in relation earning points were right. Against Stuttgart it wasn't ok. "We played against a top team", said Marc Ziegler and wants to say: Against them it is allowed. What Ziegler was concealing: there is no one in the team, who can do it better against Freiburg and as the homeside against Frankfurt and Wolfsburg.

Clint Mathis in a slump, and captain Altin Lala shows more and more, that he didn't do the preparation (before starting the season) because his pubic-bone injury. Doing something for the defense and offense is too much for him. "My physical constitution is not on the top", he admits. Jaime and Nebojsa Krupnikovic were not even on the bench against Stuttgart, just Vladimir But (90 minutes). These 3 do have the technical qualities, but also deficits in running and fighting. But saturday one of them, like But can help against SC Freiburg (Lienen: "he is on a good way").

[source of the german version: www.kicker.de]

Hannover. Hannover 96 lost 0:1 against Bundesliga 3rd Vfb Stuttgart after 5 unbeaten games in a row. Hannover is still the 12th in the standings. Stuttgart is still on the 3rd, because Bayern Munich had won against 1860 Munich (1:0).

Ewald Lienen changed his tactics from Bremen (3 defense in the back) to a chain of 4. Schuler played for Kleber on the left, and Thomas Christiansen back in the team (yellow banned) as the second forward. Stuttgart played without the injured Aliaksandr Hleb.

The key scenes from that game were just in the beginning. In the 9th Hannover's forward Thomas Brdaric was tackled by Fernando Meira in the penalty area. But the referee didn't whistle to give a penalty-kick for the reds.

Just the next scene did decide the game for Stuttgart. Cacau crossed a ball from the right wing into the middle and midfielder Silvio Meißner strucked from 10 meter distance the ball under the bar (10th). The ball jumped behind the line and than out of the goal (reminded at the Wembley goal).

But Hannover 96 recoverd from that goal by getting any chances. In the 16th Altin Lala shot from 30 meters over the bar. Two minutes later by a nice combination Hannover got the chance to equalize. Cherundolo passed a ball to Brdaric, but he didn't get it under control and finally got to Christiansen who shot over the bar from 10 meters (18th). Another chance by Brdaric (header) one minute later wasn't succesfull either. Stuttgart had a few chances, but none big chance, and the second half ended 0:1.

Hannover began the second half with the new forward Idrissou subbed for Schuler, while Stuttgart didn't do anything offensive and waiting for counter-attacks. In the 52nd Clint Mathis crossed a ball from the right wing into the box to Christiansen. He turned around and shot from 6 meters to the goal, but it deflected at Stuttgarts goalkeeper` Hildebrand. The last chance for the reds came in the 65th. Mathis shot a free kick (30 meters), that deflected in the defense (wall). Mathis shot that ball flatfooted into the box, and Idrissou tried to score, but Stuttgart's Streller saved it.

Today it was to hard for Hannover 96 beating the best defense of the Bundesliga. After Stuttgart's early lead (they stood the whole game defensive), the reds tried, but didn't had the luck to score in a bad game. There was also no will, showing from the team, to win that game (any creativity was missing in the midfield). Ewald Lienen said:"We have had many chances in the first half. But the mistake that lead Stuttgart to that goal must not happen in the midfield. Because the second half we didn't deserve to win". Stuttgart's coach Magath said:"We got that lucky goal and because the good defense we deserved to win". Hannover has to score next weekend against "relegation neighbour" Freiburg, to climb out the relegation zone.

STATS

Lineups
Hannover 96: Ziegler - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Schuler (46. Idrissou) - Dabrowski (82.Stendel), Lala (70.Schröter), de Guzman, Mathis - Christiansen, Brdaric
VfB Stuttgart: Hildebrand - Lahm, Meira, Bordon, Gerber - Soldo, Meißner, Heldt (63. Vranjes), Tiffert (91.Centurion) - Kuranyi, Cacau (63. Streller)

Goals: 0:1 Meißner (10.)
Yellow cards: None
Referee: Stefan Trautmann (Florstadt)
Spectators: 27.537 (sold out)

Best Men Hannover 96: Steven Cherundolo

Stand up, if you are Mathis!

(there is a fan song: Steht auf, wenn Ihr rote seid/stand up if you are one of the reds.)

Hannover. Five player's had been signed in the last winter - but just for one there was a reason. In every game of the season's second half Clint Mathis stood in the starting lineup. He scored 4 times in 5 games. His teammate's, that had been signed that time, like Abel Xavier, Stanko Svitlica, Jaime or Wladimir But should felt jealous.

But in the last game's scoring for Mathis seemed to be far away. The good results against 1860 Munich (2:0), against Cologne (1:0) and in Bremen (0:0) is no gratitude to the 27 year old US stud. Against Bremen he only got an impression by a hard tackle against Mladen Krstajic (and he got lucky not been suspended by red).
"He got lucky. But I don't reproach. He apologized after the game", said Bremen's injured defender (fibula contusion). Mathis at least good manners.

"He sure has more potential", said Ewald Lienen carefully. It is no crisis, that Mathis " has to do more. He has to hold the ball - not, that he's loosing it directly".

But the offensive player seems to be tired. Lienen's explanation: "He has to do more in the defense, and he is doing it." Another attempt: Mathis used to play in the MLS, there a star like him, had no gone onto his limit' s every game. And after his break (last game at MLS in November 2003), a reduction in productivity was expected.

But Mathis should climb out of this hole: First of all, 96 needs his goals in the relegation fight - and second the balance of bying player's "one of five" is miserable enough.

[source: www.neuepresse.de]

Hannover fought to a 0:0 draw against "Bundesliga" leader Werder Bremen on Sunday in Bremen, and is now the 12th in the standings. Hannover's goalkeeper Marc Ziegler saved this one important point. The reds are unbeaten for 5 games in a row now (and did not concede a goal 3 games in a row). Werder Bremen is still the leader of the "Bundesliga" with 8 points ahead, while pursuer Byaern Munich lost their game against BVB Dortmund.

Hannover started with the same tactic they played "Auf Schalke" with 3 players in the defense (Dariusz Zuraw left, Per Mertesacker central and Steven Cherundolo right) and a compact midfield, where the Canadian Julian de Guzman was new in the team, because forward Thomas Christiansen was banned after the last game (5th yellow card). Kleber played instead of Schuler. Brdaric was the only forward in the starting lineup, with Clint Mathis behind as an offensive midfielder. Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen said before the game: "I hope he recoverd from the last games. He lost too many challenges there". With these tactics Hannover had won last year their game "Auf Schalke" 2:0. Werder Bremen played without Davala, who was banned in the last game against Frankfurt and was now substituted by Schulz. The two strikers Ailton and Klasnic should post the danger against Hannover's defense.

The game began without recognisable concept of both teams, because Hannover stood very compact in the midfield (3-6-1 tactics), so it was hard for Bremen to get into the game and of course to get chances infront of Hannover's goal. Many offsides were called in the first half.

But the first chance came by the US striker Clint Mathis in the 8th. Mo Idrissou crossed a ball far outside the box from the left wing into the right box, but Mathis missed the ball trying a header.

In the 14th Bremen got the first chance to go ahead by Micoud. After De Guzman lost a challenge in the midfield, Bremen's Klasnic crossed a ball from the left wing into the box. Defender Mertesacker cleared the ball right infront of Bremen's Micoud, who missed the goal by shooting narrow near the left post. Bremen had a few chances by Klasnic, but they ended always at Hannover's defense or goalkeeper Marc Ziegler. In the 35th Clint Mathis got yellow by a hard tackle against Klasnic.

From the beginning of the second half the homeside began to threaten. But Hannover's defense Cherundolo, Mertesacker and Zuraw stood very savely. Goalkeeper Ziegler continued his good performance by clearing a free kick (27 meter's) from Bremen's Ismael in the 48th. One minute later a counter attack gave Hannover the next chance, set up by Thomas Brdaric. He passed the ball to De Guzman, who crossed it into the box from the right wing, while the other Canadian Stalteri (playing for Bremen) nearly shot an own goal, trying to clear the ball. De Guzman had the next chance for Hannover in the 56th, shooting from a 10 meter distance from a norrow angle. But Bremen's goalkeeper saved.

Now it was showtime for Marc Ziegler: in the 58th Lisztes ran through the defense, after a nice pass from Ernst, and tried to score (10 meter's), but Ziegler cleared brilliantly. 2 Minutes later Ziegler saved the next ball from Lisztes by a pass from Ailton. In the 62nd the next big chance for Bremen came by Klasnic who shot from the left, from a norrow angle, into the outter net.

Seven minutes later Mo Idrissou had a chance to score a header from the left near the goalmouth, but instead he set it up for Brdaric who missed the ball, because it was too high. The two Bremen forward's Charisteas and Valdez came into the game (subbed for Ailton and Klasnic), but they did not break Hannover's defense and the game ended goalless 0:0.

It was hard work for Hannover to earn one point, which can be very important in the relegation fight. The best man on the field was goalkeeper Marc Ziegler who did not concede a goal. Hannover is looking forward with a quite good self-confidence at the match next weekend against Stuttgart.

STATS

Lineups
Hannover 96: Ziegler - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw (81. Schneider) - de Guzman, Dabrowski, Lala, Kleber (63. Schröter), Mathis (87. Schuler), Idrissou - Brdaric
SV Werder Bremen: Reinke - Stalteri, Krstajic (61. Lagerblom), Ismael, Schulz - Baumann, Lisztes,Ernst, Micoud - Klasnic (71. Charisteas), Ailton (71. Valdez)
Yellow cards: Ismael, Schulz / Mathis
Referee: Hermann Albrecht
Spectators: 43.000 (sold out)

Best Men Hannover 96: Marc Ziegler, Darius Zuraw, Steven Cherundolo, Peer Mertesacker

Steve Cherundolo: Showed his best performance this season. Strong in the defense, courageous going forward with good crosses. Setted up the goal. Had to been subbed because stomach ache's.
Clint Mathis: That wasn't his day. Hided himself. great crosses followed bad passes. Bad luck shooting at the crossbar (55th).
Julian de Guzman: Required getting Balls from his teammates, but got not into the game (came in the 71st).

Hannover earned three points, after a 1:0 win against relegation threatened 1. FC Cologne and climbed to the 11th in the standings. Brdaric scored in this 100% relegation fight to his 9th season tally.

Hannover started offensively with exactly the same Team, that had won last weekend aginst 1860 Munich 2:0. The press titled this game before the match "Duel of the youngster's". 19 year old Hannovers central defender Peer Mertesacker had to watch over the 18 year old forward Lukas Podolski from Colgne (4 goals).

After 3 minutes, in the soldout "AWD Areana", the homeside began to threaten. Thomas Brdaric had his first Chance by shooting from a 13 meter distance, saved by Cologne's goalkeeper Wessels. 5 minutes later Hannover's spanish forward Thomas Christiansen shot over the croassbar from a far distance setted up by a header from Brdaric. In the 17th US-striker Clint Mathis crossed a ball from outside the box slightly into the goalmouth, where Idrissou missed the ball (narrow distance).

From now on the relegation fight began. Many high balls shot by the goalkeeper's into the midfield prevented an organized game on both sides. In the 19th the first big chance came for Cologne. Zuraw saved a ball from Cologne's Sinkala, and unfortunatly crossed to Streit, that passed it to Podolski, who missed the goal at the right post by a header. His defender was Steven Cherundolo, who didn't have any chance to win that fight (Cherundolo is way smaller and 15 kg lighter).

"The red's" next chance came in the 29th, when Clint Mathis crossed the ball to Altin Lala, who failed against two defender's. Hannover went ahead in the 34th to the 1:0 after a nice cross by Steven Cherundolo from the right into the back of Cologne's defense. Thomas Christiansen took that ball by diving a header, that deflected at the left post into the goalmouth, that finally Thomas Brdaric converted.

After a flat fooded shot by Podolski, that was cleared by Hannover's goalkeeper Marc Ziegler, came the next big chance for the red's. Clint Mathis shot a ball from a 30 meter distance, that ricocheted at the crossbar. Christiansen passed that ball to Brdaric by a header, that finally ended in the arms of Wessels (45th).

The second half started in the same mood where the first half ended. A wrongly called offside goal by Podolski came in the 56th (Schuler was the last man). One minute later Christiansen tested goalkeeper Wessels by a volley shot (15 meter's), who cleared that chance very well. After two in the 59th and 67th (one ball at the right post, shooted by Podolski), two new Hannover player's came into the game. Clint Mathis and Mo' Idrissu were substituted in the 71st for the Canadian De Guzmann and Stendel in order to stand more defensively, and of course new power in the offensive way.

A few chances came by both teams, but the game ended 1:0 for the lucky winner Hannover 96. Hannover is now with 32 points on the 11th in the standings. Cologne missed it last's chance by winning to work out the relegation zone. Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen said: "That was important for survival. This game was the most difficult game since I began to coach the team from Hannover 96. There are only 4 points space between uns and the relegation zone. The 11th doesn't matter to us". This small series (4 games not beaten in a row) hopefully goes on next weekend against "Bundesliga-leader" Werder Bremen.


STATS

Lineups
Hannover 96: Ziegler - Cherundolo (87th Schneider), Mertesacker, Zuraw, Schuler - Dabrowski, Lala, Mathis (71th de Guzman), Idrissou (71th Stendel) - Christiansen, Brdaric
1. FC Köln: Wessels - Schröder, Dogan, Cichon (41th Sichone), Voigt - Kringe, Grujic, Sinkala - Streit (69th Lejan), Federico (56th Scherz), Podolski
Goals: 1:0 Brdaric (34th)
Yellow cards: Christiansen (banned next game) / Cichon, Dogan, Scherz, Sichone
Referee: Peter Sippel (München)
Spectators: 27.200

Hannover 96 - 1. FC Cologne
15:10 shots at the goal
3:3 corner-kicks
19:8 crosses
21:17 fouls
1:12 offsides
45%:55% contacts with the ball
53%:47% +challenges

Best Man Hannover 96: Steven Cherundolo, Thomas Brdaric, Peer Mertesacker
Best Man 1. FC Cologne: Lukas Podolski

It was just one month ago (3/8/04) the new Hannover 96 coach Ewald Lienen was substituded against Ralf Rangnick after a 0:1 loss against Gladbach.

That things have changed:

• Rangnick got only 4 points in 6 games and left the club on the 16th in the standings. Lienen got 5 points in 4 games. Nobody has won against Hannover 96 since 3 matches and they are on the 13th in the standings.

• Lienen optimized the defense. Average 1 conceded goal each game. With Rangnick there were 2,26 conceded goals.

• Lienen changed the the practice plan. In the days before the matches, the practice is on 15:30 h (the saturday games begin on that time). Rangnick did it alway in the morning.

• Lienen (333 Bundesliga games) is practicing with the team, while Rangnick was wtching.

• Lienen is practicing without a whistle and 2 hours (in opposite to Rangnick, with a whistle and only 90 minutes).

• After the practicing Lienen is the last man on the field. There after the team has to stay 45 minutes for health care. At Rangnick everybody left on a free will.

• Before the momeside-match the team hast to stay in the hotel without the common friday's cinema visit. What's important for Lienen, that theam is beginning and ending their meal at the same time. At Rangnick, the team slept at their places.

• Lienen shows only videos from the opposing team. Rangnick showed also scenes from "the reds".

• After a homeside game, the team is having meal in the changing rooms. At Rangnick the team stayed in the VIP-area.

Steve Cherundolo: Wasn't really busy in defending. That shows, he didn't act offensively, while he has the opportunity's. There's much space to improve...!
Clint Mathis: The disappointment in that game. Couldn't go further with his good performance in the last games. His problem: if he has a bad day, no creativity in the midfield is showing up.
Julian de Guzman: Was substituted for Mathis in the 63rd. played committed, but got a yellow card for a stupid tackle.

Relegation threatened Hannover 96 climbed out the relegation zone to the 13th in the standings, with a 2:0 win against 1860 München. The other competitors failed to win in the relegation fight, making Hannover the lucky winner of the day.

Hannover started offensively with the two forwards Christiansen and Brdaric. Mo' Idrissu was back in the team (front left) after serving a one game suspension. The first half both teams played nervously. In the 2nd, München's Torben Hoffmann got the first chance hitting the goal by a header after a free-kick from Görlitz. But the ball missed the goal. Nearly the same situation came two minutes later. After a corner-kick by Clint Mathis, Hannover's forward Thomas Brdaric, also failed to sink a header. The first 10 minutes belonged to München, but the reds came in the game more and more although they didn't post much danger in the first half.

Hannover did get a better start into the second half. Hannover's defender Peer Mertesacker cleared a chance by München's Agostino in the 47th. 10 minutes later the red's Markus Schuler crossed a high pass, after a short corner, slightly into the goalmouth, while Agostine deflected the ball by his head near the left post.

Now the three minutes of Hannover's way out of the relegation zone began: In the 71st Markus Schuler crossed a corner kick from the left into the box, that Darius Zuraw (no defense around him) converted by a header directly into the right net.

In the 73rd Hannover's Brdaric scored from the left (by a through pass from an 8 meter distance) setted up by Mo' Idrissou, who headed the ball from the midfield into the free space, which Brdaric took advantage of, while beating München's defender Kurz. In the last minutes Hannover earned a few chances unfortunately missing the goal by Thomas Brdaric in the 80th and 87th (ricocheted at the crossbar). The last chance came from Daniel Stendel, who was set up by a smart pass by the international Canadian Julian de Guzman in the 89th.

Hannover earned that win (and the three points) after a better second half and more scoring-chances. The best man in Hannover's defense was Peer Mertesacker who acted very good. In the offense Thomas Brdaric showed his dangerous skills. After a first bad half, Mo' Idrissou had a stronger second half by setting up many chances. The American Clint Mathis seemed to play in the first half more defensively, while his team needed him in the front. He was substituted in the 64th for Julian de Guzman. But the real winner of that game was the Hannover 96 defense.

The red's climbed out of the relegation zone to 13th in the standings. The next game against Köln (Hannover is the homeside), Hannover 96 has to win again, because after that game the next matches against Bremen and Stuttgart will be hard work.

Stats:

Lineups
TSV 1860 München: Hofmann - Fernando, Kurz (80. Kioyo), Costa, Hoffmann - Cerny (46. Tyce), Görlitz, Lehmann (59. Lauth), Meyer - Agostino, Schroth
Hannover 96: Ziegler - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Schuler - Mathis (64. de Guzman), Lala, Dabrowski, Idrissou - Christiansen (82.Stendel), Brdaric (89. Kleber)
Goals: 0:1 Zuraw (71.), 0:2 Brdaric (74.)
Yellow cards: Cerny, Costa, Hoffmann, Fernando / Cherundolo, de Guzman, Zuraw, Brdaric
Referee: Dr. Markus Merk
Spectators: 26.700