USA bounce back. Steven Cherundolo (picture) rebounds with the U.S. with a 2-0 victory over Guatemala with goals by Eddie Johnson (Landon Donovan) in the 11th minute and Steve Ralston (Eddie Johnson) in the 68th. The standings see Mexico on top with seven points, the USA in second with six. Guatemala and Costa Rica share third place with four points apiece, while Panama are second bottom with two, one ahead of cellar dwellers Trinidad & Tobago. North, Central American and Caribbean Zone qualifying competition resumes on 4 June.

Results:
Greece - Albania 0:2 (Altin Lala played 90 minutes)
Poland - Northern Ireland 1:0 (Dariusz Zuraw wasn't on duty)
USA - Guatemala 2:0 (Steven Cherundolo played 90 minutes)

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about his duty for the "Maple Leaf" against Portugal on his website (english and german):

"With an attendance of 12,000 in Barcelos, Portugal. The 4-1 defeat wasn't enough to reflect..."

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

Albania - Turkey 0:2 (Altin Lala played 90 minutes)
Portugal - Canada 4:1 (Julian de Guzman played 90 minutes)
Slovania - Germany 0:1 (Per Mertesacker wasn't on duty)
Poland - Azerbaidschan 8:0 (Dariusz Zuraw wasn't on duty)
Mexico - USA 1:2 (Steven Cherundolo played 83 minutes)

Hannover 96: Frank Juric - Silvio Schröter, Thomas Schneider (80. Dame Diouf), Vinicius Bergantin, Danijel Stefulj - Christoph Dabrowski, Nebojsa Krupnikovic, Veljko Paunovic (62. Vladimir But) - Jiri Stajner (62. Leandro Fonseca), Jiri Kaufman (62. Roman Wallner), Daniel Stendel (80. Hendrik Hahne)

Goals: 0:1 Jiri Kaufman (25.), 1:1 Timm Kreibich (36.)
Attendance: 1136

"Happy Birthday!" to The Red's Canadian whirlwind Julian de Guzman who turns 24 today. The 96 crowd favourite won't be buying the drinks for his team mates in Hannover tonight, because he is on international duty with Canada, who are playing a friendly against Portugal on Saturday.

Visit Julian's website: http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

Hannover 96: Jensen - Stefulj, Diouf, Schneider (46. Vinicius), Tarnat (67. Dabrowski) - Rosenthal (7. Yankson), But, Schröter (46. Krupnikovic) - Paunovic (46. Kaufman), Stajner (46. Hahne), Leandro (67. Stendel)

Goals: 0:1 Leandro (14.), 0:2 Schneider (16.), 0:3 Stefulj (20.), 0:4 Stajner (39.), 0:5 Hahne (48.), 0:6 But (62.), 0:7 Krupnikovic (64.), 0:8 Stendel (70.), 0:9 Dabrowski (72.), 0:10 Kaufman (76., Penalty)

Hannover 96 defender Sören Halfar will be missing at the next 4-6 weeks due to knee injury. The 18-year old left back picked up his injury during the last Bundesliga game against Gladbach. Fortunate for Sören that there is no need for surgery. We wish Sören a speedy recovery!

Hannover 96 vs. Borussia Mönchengladbach
9 : 11 shots at the goal
4 : 2 corner kicks
7 : 15 crosses
13: 21 fouls
  3 : 4 offsides
47% : 53% contacts with the ball
50% : 50% +challenges

Most shots at the goal:
96: Krupnikovic, Stajner (2 each)
Gladbach: Thijs (4)

Most setups:
96: Vinicius, Paunovic (3 each)
Gladbach: Neuville (4)

Most contacts with the ball:
96: Krupnikovic (75)
Gladbach: Korzynietz (92)

Most won challenges:
96: Mertesacker (71 %)
Gladbach: Moore (67%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Steven Cherundolo:      "Unfortunately for my US national temmate Kasey Keller but fortunate for me, that we were winning yesterday against Gladbach 2-1. After a bad first half the team picked up the second half and played a wonderful hard fought 45 minutes to score two goals, maybe we could have scored one or two more. We sent the fans home with three points happy after 5 home losses in a row. It was very important for us to win today and we did. We got the job done! "

Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen:     "In the first half we were lucky conceiding only one goal.This was a bad first half from us. We had problems with our aggresiveness and there was no connection between the midfield and the offense. The success came with the substitutions in the second half. We had 5 offensive players on the field and they started the initiative. We played very well in the second half."

Gladbach's coach Dick Advocaat:     "We had a good start and we had several chances in the first half to score the second even the third goal. Hannover did well in the second half. We missed playing more offensively then. You have to score to win Bundesliga games."

After a desolate first half and one goal down Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen manages the turnaround with "The Two Jiris". Substituted Czech striker duo Jiri Stajner and Jiri Kaufman prove vital in defeating a weak away side. Jiri Stajner scores the relieving equaliser in the 59th after a Kaufman pass. Brazilian defender Vinicius converts striker Veljko Paunovic's clever assist (picture) and shoots Hannover to their first home victory this year (73). Young defender Halfar leaves the pitch shortly before the final whistle with suspected tendon injury.

Caoch Ewald Lienen had to replace six regulars with reserve players, and changed several positions. 96 started with a heavily decimated formation: midfielders Altin Lala (Albania) and Julian de Guzman (Canada) serving yellow card suspension, German defender Michael Tarnat down with flu, German midfielder Christoph Dabrowski, strikers Daniel Stendel (Germany) and Thomas Christiansen (Spain) sidelined with injuries. Young local newcomer Soeren Halfar returned to play left defender, Brazilian defender Vinicius moving to unusual defensive midfield position joining Croatian Daniel Stefulj. Strikers Veljko Paunovic (Serbia) and Leandro (Brazil) completed Hannover's starting lineup. Borussia Moenchengladbach's coach, Dutch Dick Advocaat, had to make do without injured Wesley Sonck (Belgium).

If the Reds wanted to set straight a negative record of six consecutive home defeats, they failed to show it in the first half:

In the 12th minute Serbien midfielder Nebojsa Krupnikovicv sent in a right corner to the far post where polish defender Dariusz Zuraw failed to convert with inches to spare, because he was holded back from Gladbach's defender Craig Moore. But the referee denied a penalty for the Reds. 6 minutes later german midfielder Jörg Böhme brilliantly setup Olliver Neuville, who failed at the 96-goalkeeper Robert Enke (18th). The away team ruled the pitch then. Hannover 96 only had two more half-hearted efforts in the first half by Leandro (25) and German midfielder Silvio Schroeter (41), easily saved by Moenchengladbach's American 'keeper Kasey Keller.

Gladbach showed more aggressivensess on the field and their persistence paid off. German striker Oliver Neuville finds no way to trick Robert Enke with his left lob from a tight angle, but only seconds later the German 96-goalie is beaten regardless: German Midfielder Joerg Boehme sends off a perfectly timed pass addressed to Czech striker Vaclav Sverkos, who shoves the ball from 15 yards into the right corner of Hannover's net. It was a well-deserved lead for Moenchengladbach after 31 painful minutes for home supporters.

Once again Hannover was saved by the interval, as Moenchengladbach failed to capitalise from excellent chances by Belgian midfielder Bernd Thijs (35) and Neuville (44). Disappointed home crowds sent off Hannover into the break with loud whistles.

Ewald Lienen had to do something. The "Two Jiris" were to prove the stroke of luck Hannover needed so badly: Czech duo Jiri Kaufman and Jiri Stajner replaced Stefulj and Leandro. Hannover upped the pace of the match, and both newly substituted strikers were involved in the build-up to Hannover's dangerous efforts to come.

Vinicius served Kaufman with a beautiful pass, who took his aim to long and only hit the near post from eight yards in half-right position (58). A minute later one man turns the AWD Arena into a madhouse, and makes 96-coach Lienen bounce around with joy: after a brash build-up involving defender Per Mertesacker and midfielder Schroeter, who sets up Kaufman on the right, the Czech striker's pass into the back of Moenchengladbach's defence finds Jiri Stajner. The other half of the Czech duo takes aim and hammers the equaliser home from point-blank distance.

There were better things to come! Serbian playmaker Nebojsa Krupnikovic bends a free kick towards striker Veljko Paunovic, who heads the ball on to Vinicius: the Brazilian hits home from four yards with liberating force (picture) and shoots Hannover to their first home victory this year (73).

Moenchengladbach on the other hand were lucky when defender Craig Moore felled Serbian Paunovic just before the box. The Australian was only cautioned for unsporting behaviour with a yellow card, but sending him off would have been the better choice for Swabian referee Markus Schmidt. Krupnikovic tries to convert the resulting free kick, but the ball brushes over the cross-bar.

Moenchengladbach was truly beaten, and 96 had no difficulties to keep the away team at bay for the remainder of the second half. Bad news for Hannover's youngest though: Newcomer Soeren Halfar had to leave the pitch with suspected tendon injury. The 18-year-old will be Mrid on Monday to find out about the injuries gravity.

The hard-earned victory against Moenchengladbach ends a negative series of five consecutive home defeats. The squad played an awful first half, but returned with a vengeance to the second. Ewald Lienen shows the Midas touch at sending the "Two Jiris", Czech striker duo Stajner and Kaufman, into battle.

Statistics

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Halfar - Vinicius - Schröter (87. Schneider), Stefulj (46. Kaufman)- Krupnikovic - Leandro (46. Stajner), Paunovic

Borussia Mönchengladbach: Keller - Korzynietz, Moore, van Kerckhoven, Daems - Kluge (36. Ulich), Thijs, Böhme - Neuville, Jansen (78. van Hout)- Sverkos

Goals: 0:1 Sverkos (31.), 1:1 Stajner (59.), 2:1 Vinicius (73.)
Cautions: Halfar / Thijs, Moore, Böhme
Referee: Markus Schmidt (Stuttgart)
Attendance: 36.725
Picture: S. Zwing

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against Gladbach:

Enke, Juric, Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Schneider, Halfar, Vinicius, Stefulj, But, Agac, Schröter, Krupnikovic, Stajner, Paunovic, Wallner, Kaufman, and Leandro.

The last games of this Bundesliga season have been scheduled:

04/23/05 Sat	FSV Mainz 05 - Hannover 96	15:30 CET
05/01/05 Sun	Hannover 96 - 1. FC Nürnberg	17:30 CET
05/07/05 Sat	VfB Stuttgart - Hannover 96	15:30 CET
05/14/05 Sat	Hannover 96 - Hamburger SV	15:30 CET
05/21/05 Sat	Hertha BSC Berlin - Hannover 96	15:30 CET

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the game against Gladbach and his international nomination on his website (english and german):

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

5 players of Hannover 96 will be on international duty.

Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced his squad for the friendly against Slovenia (03/26 20:45 CET) and included Per Mertesacker in his side. A couple of 96ers foreign players will also be in action for the 2006 World cup qualifying games:

Altin Lala has been called up by Albania against Turkey (03/26) and Greek (03/30). Steven Cherundolo will play for the USA against Mexico (03/27) and Guatemala (03/30). Dariusz Zuraw will play for Poland against Azerbaidschan (03/26) and Northern Ireland (03/30).

Julian de Guzman has been included in the Canadian squad for a friendly game against Portugal (03/26).

The US defender Steven Cherundolo talks about the Wolfsburg game and the next game against Mönchengladbach and his international appereance against Mexico and Guatemala on his website (english and german):

http://www.cherundolo.de

The 18-year old 96-defender Sören Halfar is making his debut today for the U19 team of Germany against Italy. The game starts 18:15 PM (CET) at the Donaustadion in Ulm and will be broadcasted live on "DSF". Good luck to Sören!

The Reds will play away two friendlies around eastern:

03/24/2005 against TuS Neuenkirchen near Osnabrück at 17:30 PM (CET)
03/26/2005 against 1. FC Magdeburg at 14:30 PM (CET) at the Heinrich-Germer-Stadion

Vfl Wolfsburg vs. Hannover 96
13 : 17 shots at the goal
3 : 8 corner kicks
16 : 20 crosses
28: 15 fouls
  2 : 4 offsides
46% : 54% contacts with the ball
44% : 56% +challenges

Most shots at the goal:
96: Cherundolo 5
Wolfsburg: Klimowicz 4

Most setups:
96: Krupnikovic (8)
Wolfsburg: Karhan (5)

Most contacts with the ball:
96: Cherundolo, Mertesacker (85 each)
Wolfsburg: Quiroga (69)

Most won challenges:
96: Krupnikovic (70 %)
Wolfsburg: Quiroga (74%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Despite countless efforts and their strong performance the Reds suffer defeat in Saturday's Lower-Saxony derby in Wolfsburg's Volkswagen Arena. Argentinian striker Juan Carlos Menseguez scores the premature decider in the 6th minute for the home team. Hannover fail to put the ball away, American Steven Cherundolo hitting the crossbar twice. Midfielders Altin Lala and Julian de Guzman will serve yellow card suspension in the upcoming home match, playing Moenchengladbach.

96-coach Ewald Lienen was troubled to replace three regulars. Injured German striker Daniel Stendel, midfielder Silvio Schroeter and defender Michael Tarnat were missing in the starting line-up. Defender Steven Cherundolo returned to the formation after serving one match suspension, Brazilian defender Vinicius filling Tarnat's position. German Christoph Dabrowski moved in to re-enforce midfield, with Danish striker Thomas Christiansen dropping to the bench. The home team was left without German striker Thomas Brdaric and midfield-marshal Andres D'Alessandro, both due to injuries, young German midfielder Karsten Fischer getting his chance and Argentinian defender Facundo Quiroga completing Wolfsburg's line-up after serving yellow card suspension.

The derby started fervently with a classy reflex-save by 'keeper Robert Enke who denied Spanish striker Diego Fernando Klimowicz in the 2nd. Brazilian striker Leandro probed the opposing German goalkeeper's abilities with a pounding shot from 23 yards, Simon Jentzsch just managing to tip the ball over the crossbar. The resulting corner-kick turned the 6th minute into a nightmare for 96, Czech striker Jiri Stajner losing the ball to Martin Petrov's tackle. The Bulgarian runs down the left and sets up fellow striker Juan Carlos Menseguez with a deadly precise pass in the middle. The Argentinian shrugs off Canadian de Guzman and nets the ball from fourteen yards, leaving Robert Enke not a chance for clearance, the ball being deflected from his save into the goal. No shell-shock for the Reds though, who created numerous chances. Brilliant but unlucky Steven Cherundolo lobs the ball from the right corner of the box to hit the crossbar in the 13th. His sweet cross to the far post only five minutes later begged to be put away by waiting Jiri Stajner. But the Czech striker's header from three yards sends the ball into the terraces. In the 22nd Cherundolo's hammering shot from 17 yards brushes the crossbar. 10 minutes later Stajner drives the ball high over the crossbar from eight yards, failing to capitalise from a brazing build-up involving de Guzman and Leandro. The home team's only effort three minutes before the interval poses no problem for Enke, who deflects a Petrov hammer safely.

Immediately after the break coach Ewald Lienen replaced midfielder Dabrowski with Serbian Veljko Paunovic. The striker only just misses goal with a close-up header, trying to convert Cherundolo's cross in the 57th. The great chance to score the final decider evaded Wolfsburg's Klimowicz, who is denied from seven yards by Enke's spectacular save in the 63rd. Seven minutes later Cherundolo's bouncing shot from a tight angle is narrowly saved by Jentzsch. In the 72nd Serbian playmaker Nebojsa Krupnikovic drops a free-kick dangerously into the box, the ball connecting with Paunovic's head, but the forceful diving header just passing outside the right post. Four minutes later Jentzsch again denies Paunovic from the edge of the box. Cherundolo could have turned the tables in the 78th with an equaliser; he outfoxes Petrov on the right and lobs the ball from 13 yards towards target. The ball hits the top left corner of crossbar and post. Wolfsburg answered swiftly with Topic trying to beat Enke on the left side, but an alert Enke scrapes the ball off the Bosnian striker's foot at the last moment. Enke saved 96 from further damage in the 80th when he deflects Fischer's 20 yard shot. Hannover's final rush for Wolfsburg goal turned out no result. Neither de Guzman with a 22-yard shot nor Cherundolo with his bouncing 20-yarder in extra time could change the outcome of this match. Even Enke in attack position was unable to net the deflected ball (photo). The referee failed to notice Kevin Hofland's hand ball in the area snatching the ball from Czech substitution striker Jiri Kaufman.

In losing the Northern derby the Reds are twice unlucky: The double yellow card suspension for Altin Lala and Julian de Guzman robs Hannover of two top midfielders in next week's match against Gladbach. Wolfsburg keeps dreaming of the UEFA-Cup, whereas Hannover disappear in the table's no man's land.

STATISTICS

VfL Wolfsburg: Jentzsch - Rytter, Quiroga, Hofland - Thiam - Karhan, Schnoor - Fischer - Menseguez (83. Maric), Klimowicz (74. Topic), M. Petrov (87. Hgrovic)

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius - de Guzman, Lala (89. Schneider), Dabrowski (46. Paunovic) - Krupnikovic - Leandro, Stajner (59. Kaufman)

Goals: 1:0 Menseguez (6.)
Cautions: Klimowicz, Hofland (misses next match), Schnoor / Lala (misses next match), de Guzman (misses next match), Paunovic
Attendance: 25.921
Referee: Dr. Felix Brych
Picture: S. Zwing

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18 man roster for the game against Wolfsburg:

Enke, Juric, Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius, Schneider, Halfar, Stefulj, Lala, Dabrowski, de Guzman, Krupnikovic, Stajner, Paunovic, Christiansen, Kaufman and Leandro.

The US defender Steven Cherundolo talks about the Rostock game and the next game against Wolfsburg on his website (english and german):

http://www.cherundolo.de

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the game against Hansa Rostock on his website (english and german):

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

Hannover 96 vs. Hansa Rostock
11 : 12 shots at the goal
7 : 4 corner kicks
27 : 6 crosses
21: 23 fouls
  3 : 6 offsides
61% : 39% contacts with the ball
46% : 54% +challenges

Most shots at the goal:
96: Tarnat, Krupnikovic, Christiansen, Leandro, Stajner (2 each)
Rostock: Prica (6)

Most setups:
96: Leandro (4)
Rostock: Maul (5)

Most contacts with the ball:
96: Krupnikovic (97)
Rostock: Hartmann, Lantz (51)

Most won challenges:
96: Mertesacker (70 %)
Rostock: Lapaczinski (90%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

A bad year for the Reds: Hannover made a hash of beating bottom-of-the-table Rostock from Germany's Baltic coast. Disappointed and outraged home supporters saw a desolate first half and an indecisive squad in the second that squandered away chance after chance for an equaliser.

Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen changed his starting line-up on four positions compared to last Tuesday's DFB Cup game. Croatian midfielder Danijel Stefulj filled in for American defender Steven Cherundolo, who is serving suspension for his fifth yellow card. German defender Michael Tarnat returned to the pitch after recuperating from knee operation. Lienen nominated three new strikers for the squad: Czech Jiri Stajner, Spanish Thomas Christiansen and Brazilian Leandro (Fonseca) replaced German Silvio Schroeter (ill) and Serb Veljko Paunovic (absent on leave), with German Soeren Halfar and Daniel Stendel dropping to the bench.

Rostock's coach Joerg Berger replaced Danish midfielder Thomas Rasmussen with German striker Marco Vorbeck.

The match started lively with the away team being the more dangerous one. Two minutes into the game Rostock's Swedish striker Rade Prica fires a pounding shot from the right edge of the area at Hannover's 'keeper Robert Enke who just manages a save. Only four minutes later Ronald Maul's free kick sets up Marco Vorbeck on the left who wrestles free of Hannover's defence but fails to put the ball away.

The Reds went under entirely in the second part of the first half. Rostock created more opportunities by the minute. In the 24th after a build-up involving Swedish striker Marcus Allbaeck and German Vorbeck Prica has the ball to himself. The Swedish striker storms towards Enke who denies him with a spectacular reflex save. In the 25th Finnish midfielder Jari Litmanen's passes to Prica who misses the right post with a hammering shot. Hannover's defence has no means to stop attack after attack, and in the 28th Rostock scores after a Litmanen free-kick from half-right position. Rade Prica shakes off his marker Michael Tarnat and helps the ball on with a flick-on header into the far left corner of the net, leaving Enke not the slightest chance for a clearance.

The Reds were saved by the interval, outraged supporters sending them off into the break with boo-hisses and fierce abusive chanting.

Hannover returned to the pitch with unchanged formation, but new resolve. Just three minutes into the second half Jiri Stajner's header from Krupnikovic's corner kick was cleared off the line by alert German goalie Mathias Schober. The Reds regained their shattered confidence and upped the pressure. Brazilian Leandro was denied a Penalty after unfair tackle just ouside the area in the 61st, Tarnat's effort to capitalise from the resulting free kick absorbed by the wall. Only a couple of minutes later Krupnikovic fails to score from point-blank position, Christiansen snatching the bounce-off ball from Schober's save, but again the Spanish striker's shot is blocked by Rostock's defender Michael Hartmann. The away team at this point seemed unable to withstand the Reds any longer, only sending one little reminder in the 72nd with Prica's attacking header hitting the crossbar.

Hannover's coach Ewald Lienen tried to add more steam to the kettle by substituting German defender Per Mertesacker for Austrian striker Robert Wallner. His strategic substitution back-fired when striker Daniel Stendel had to leave the pitch due to leg injury, leaving Hannover one man down.

In the end Hannover lost the impetus and fell back into old habits of inaccurate passing and hectic play. Hansa Rostock earned well-deserved three points and leaves their position bottom of the table. Hannover 96 again misses a great chance to win the first home match in 2005. [as]

STATISTICS

Hannover 96 Enke - Stefulj, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - de Guzman, Lala - Krupnikovic - Stajner, Christiansen, Leandro -Coach: Lienen

Hansa Rostock Schober - Hartmann, Moehrle, Lapaczinski, Maul - Lantz, Persson - Vorbeck, Litmanen, Prica - Allbaeck - Coach: Joerg Berger

Goals: 0:1 Rade Prica (28., header,assist Maul)
Referee: Wolfgang Stark
Attendance: 26,434
Cautions
Yellow cards for unsporting behaviour: Jari Litmanen, Uwe Moehrle, Rade Prica

The US defender Steven Cherundolo talks about the Schalke games and the next game against Hansa Rostock on his website (english and german):

http://www.cherundolo.de

The Canadian midfielder Julian de Guzman talks about the next game against Hansa Rostock on his website (english and german):

http://www.juliandeguzman.ca

A complacent Schalke relied on two and a half minutes of dominant play and the doubtful decisions of an indisposed referee to scramble through to the semis in Germany's DFB Cup competition.

51 hours after Hannover's 1:0 away defeat playing Schalke in the Bundesliga, coach Ewald Lienen sent his A-team into the battle: Mertesacker, de Guzman, Paunovic and Schröter replaced Vinicius, Dabrowski, Stajner and Kaufman. Schalke's coach Ralf Rangnick changed his line-up with Poulsen and Sand, with Vermant and Ailton dropping to the bench.

The evening started promising, both teams upping the tempo right from kick-off. Two minutes into the match alert Hannover's keeper Robert Enke clears Sand's header from seven yards, the Danish striker trying to capitalise from Lincoln's corner kick.

Hannover gained confidence, concentrating on building up the game from midfield, with Krupnicovic pulling the strings. The Serbian's set pieces always meant business, as his free kick from 30 yards proved in the 16th: the precise lob finds Zuraw's head, but the Polish defender fails to put the ball away from six yards.

Pander's free kick in the 23rd meant no harm for the Reds, Enke deflecting the ball wide with his fists.

Hannover played on, sustaining the pressure. Another dream combination out of midfield, involving Cherundolo and Krupnikovic, left Schalke's defender Hoogland without an option: he fells Krupnikovic in the area, the whistle blows, and Krupnikovic himself puts the Penalty away with style. Hannover goes one up in the 27th, a well-deserved lead over a shaky home side. But the Reds forgot to pull the finishing punch on Schalke in the 33rd: defender Mertesacker, home alone with Schalke's keeper Rost, aims for the goal and hits Rost's foot instead.

This botched attempt proved to be the turning point of the match.

Schalke came back from nowhere, hitting Hannover hard with two goals before the interval. Schalke's "Man-of-the-Match" Hanke was involved in both of them: in the 39th the striker's sharp cross from the right into goalmouth forces Enke to a scrambled clearance with his foot, the bounce-off ball landing with National Asamoah, striking the ball home from 14 yards on the left; 3 minutes before half-time Hanke himself puts Schalke in the lead with an easy goal, with Hoogland and Sand involved in the build-up.

After the break an alert Schalke uses the first chance to crush Hannover's hopes for a comeback: Kobiashvili outside the area crosses to Lincoln, who sets up Hanke with a heel-kick. The striker finishes off from 13 yards with an irregular goal from an offside position, which goes unnoticed both by linesmen and referee.

Hannover wasn't beaten yet, and earned themselves clear-cut chances by Canadian de Guzman in the 58th, and substituted Brazilian Leandro only seven minutes later. 12 minutes before the final whistle Hannover went down to 10 men when referee Dr Fleischer saw Cherundolo with a hand-ball - a questionable decision, as Cherundolo touched the ball involuntarily jumping for a header. With one man down Hannover found no means to alter the outcome of the match against a defending home side.

Hannover misses the semis of the DFB Cup to the dismay of both fans and club, which hoped for extra revenue from the lucrative TV rights. [as]

STATISTICS

FC Schalke 04: F. Rost - Hoogland, Bordon, Krstajic, Pander - Poulsen, Kobiashvili - Lincoln - Asamoah, Sand, Hanke - Coach: Ralf Rangnick

Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Halfar - Lala, de Guzman - Krupnikovic - Schröter, Stendel, Paunovic - Coach: Ewald Lienen

Goals: 0:1 Krupnikovic (27.), 1:1 Asamoah (39.), 2:1 Hanke (42.), 3:1 Hanke (53.)
Substitutions: 64. Oude Kamphuis for Asamoah, 75. Hamit Altintop for Hoogland, 87. Vermant for Sand - 62. Leandro for Halfar, 62. Christiansen for Stendel
Referee: Dr. Fleischer
Attendance: 60.000
Yellow-Red: Cherundolo (78.)
Yellow: Asamoah - Paunovic, Leandro