Hannover 96 will face Werder Bremen at home in the third round of the German FA Cup.

The third round draw on TV on Saturday evening was made by the German ladies international goalkeeper Silke Rottenberg and national assistant coach Joachim.

The best sixteen will be reduced to the last eight on the 20th and 21st of December, The Red's match is most likely to be set for Wednesday 21st.

Arminia Bielefeld - Hannover 96
14 : 12 shots
2 : 4 corners
9 : 10 crosses
40% : 60% possesions
39% : 61% +challenges
15 : 15 fouls
3 : 2 offsides

Most shots:
96: V. Hashemian (3)
Bielefeld: S. Zuma (4)

Most setups:
96: J. Stajner, M. Delura (3 each)
Bielefeld: S. Zuma (4)

Most contacts:
96: S. Halfar (92)
Bielefeld: M. Schuler (48)

Most won challenges:
96: M. Delura (80%)
Bielefeld: H. Westermann (67%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

The Reds suffer a severe setback on match day 11 with a clear 1-4 (0-1) defeat in Bielefeld's Schueco-Arena. The home team take an immediate lead after 48 seconds through Michael Fink, and tie the three points result up with goals from Sibusiso Zuma (53mins) and a double-blow from Ghana's Isaac Boakye (69 and 84mins). Per Mertesacker lifts the spirits of travelling fans with his supreme header goal (55mins), but not for long. Bielefeld pay dearly for their victory with Czech Radim Cucera and South African Zuma limping off the pitch injured.

The hosts send their winning DFB Cup competition team onto the pitch, while Hannover's head coach Ewald Lienen changes the starting formation in as many as four positions. Christoph Dabrowski, Jiri Stajner, Chavdar Yankov and Hendrik Hahne take Cherundolo's, Vinicius', Weck's and Brdaric's (injured) places. Hanno Balitsch plays defender on the right wing, Soeren Halfar on the left.

The match hasn't started properly when Marco Kuentzel's lob from the right bounces to Michael Fink, who tries to succeed from 25 metres. His harmless shot though is deflected by Per Mertesacker, leaving Robert Enke not the slightest chance for a save (1min). The home team take the lead after 48 seconds! Hannover are shocked and have their first opportunity through Vahid Hashemian, who profits from Heiko Westermann's mistake, but aims too high (7mins). Bielefeld react swiftly when Zuma's one-two with Boakye leaves the South African one-to-one with Enke, but his shot from nine metres in half-left position is denied by Enke (9mins). Only a minute later David Kobylik's effort from 19 metres brushes the right post going safe. Hannover slowly found back into play with Hashemian's bullet header from Stajner's cross that is safely caught by Bielefeld's keeper Mathias Hain (14mins). The Reds have a glimmer of hope when Dabrowski crosses to Hahne, who fools former Hannover player Markus Schuler but is denied in goalmouth by quick-witted Hain (18mins). The match deteriorates quickly after that, Bielefeld fencing themselves in, Hannover desperately missing a key player with ideas.

Half time 0-1

Ewald Lienen subs in Michael Delura for pale Bulgarian Yankov. Courageous Hendrik Hahne moves to left wing position, with Stajner taking a central role alongside Hashemian. Hannover starts hopeful, but the home side scores. Hain's long goal kick finds Zuma who plays one-two with Boakye and overruns Hannover's defence line. One-to-one with Enke the strong South African cannot be baffled and drills the ball home (53mins). As a countermove Hannover raise the tally: Jiri Stajner serves Per Mertesacker with a free kick from the right who nets his cannonball header from six metres, leaving Hain not the slightest chance (55mins). The match gains momentum, but again it is Enke to save Hannover from falling further behind: Enke parries Korzynietz' deflected free kick hammer from 30 metres spectacularly with one hand, and even snuffs substituted Fatmir Vata's shot from the rebound (64mins). The Albanian tries again with a low shot from 17 metres, but his effort is thwarted again by Enke. But Bielefeld presses on, and after 69 mins Kobylik bends a dead ball kick into the box from the right, finding Westermann and Boakye completely unmarked. Isaac Boakye shows his gratitude by heading the ball from seven metres over the line to put Bielefeld three goals up. The home side display an assured performance in defending and wait for their opponents' mistakes. Stajner loses possession at the centre circle and Hannover are outnumbered, Boakye playing one-two with Vata, finally circling Enke and shoving the ball into the net (84mins). Hannover submit to their fate and do not put up any resistance any more until referee Perl blows the whistle.

Bielefeld are rewarded with three points, but pay over the odds. Kucera is down with a knee injury without opponent's interference, and double scorer Isaac Boakye hurt himself equally badly. The Reds' play suffered from absence of a key player and missing striker Thomas Brdaric, even if stand-in Hashemian alongside youngster Hendrik Hahne proved to be the most efficient 96ers in the first half. The defence line showed unusual weakness, and Hannover are beaten for the first time in five weeks. Thus the Reds miss the chance to keep in touch with the upper echelons in the table.

STATISTICS

Arminia Bielefeld: Hain - Korzynietz, Westermann, Borges, Schuler - Fink, Kucera (79. Kucera) - Kuentzel (63. Vata), D. Kobylik - Boakye (87. Pinto), Zuma

Hannover 96: Enke - Balitsch, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Halfar - Dabrowski, Lala - Yankov (46. Delura) - Hahne (81. Montabell), Stajner, Hashemian

Goals: 1:0 Fink (1.), 2:0 Zuma (53., Boakye), 2:1 Mertesacker (55., Stajner), 3:1 Boakye (69., Kobylik), 4:1 Boakye (84. Vata)

Bookings: Schuler / Dabrowski, Lala
Referee: Guenter Perl (Munich)
Attendance: 24.986

Picture: S. Zwing

Cologne - Bayern 1:2
Duisburg - Wolfsburg 1:0
Dortmund - Gladbach 2:1
Hamburg - Schalke 1:0
Lautern - Leverkusen 2:2
Bremen - Frankfurt 4:1
Stuttgart - Hertha 3:3

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 20-man roster for the match against Bielefeld:

Enke, Juric, Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius, Halfar, Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Dietwald, Weck, Yankov, Delura, Stajner, Hashemian, Hahne and Montabell.

Ewald Lienen misses 96-top scorer Thomas Brdaric who picked up an injury during Tuesday's match against Aachen (pulled muscle) with Fabian Montabell replacing him in the roster.

Hannover beat Alemannia Aachen in yesterday's DFB Cup trophy fixture 1:2 (0:1). The Reds make the next round with a nerve-wrecking match and a pinch of luck at Aachen's Tivoli Stadium. Thomas Brdaric scores twice for Hannover, converting a spot-kick (9min) and securing victory with the decisive goal seven minutes before time. 96 keeper Robert Enke denies Sergio Pinto's penalty (53min), Aachen's substitute Marius Ebbers manages the equaliser (72min) in an exciting Cup Trophy game.

Hannover's head coach Ewald Lienen changed the starting formation at three positions, replacing ailing Jiri Stajner, Christoph Dabrowski and injured Ricardo Sousa: Vahid Hashemian, Steven Cherundolo as right half and young Markus Weck, celebrating his debut in professional football, taking over. Aachen replaced suspended defender Thomas Stehle with Alexander Klitzpera, Reiner Plasshenrich taking over from Slovenian international Goran Sukalo.

Alemannia Aachen start the match with a vengeance. Sascha Roesler's shot from 14 metres passes outside the right post only two minutes into the game, with a duplicate effort from 18 metres another three minutes later. Aachen's Dutch striker Erik Meijer lobs the ball towards Hannover's goal, but his shot goes only just wide of the left post (7min). But it is on Hannover to score. Young defender Soeren Halfar is felled on the edge of the box by Zambian international Moses Sichone (picture), referee Sippel points to the spot, and Thomas Brdaric converts gracefully, fooling Aachen's keeper Kristian Nicht (9min). No signs of shell-shock with the host though. Aachen's Roesler tries a volley shot (19min), Sichone an angled one (20min), but both go amiss on the right of Enke's goal. Hannover play calmly and concentrate on defending. Only in the last two minutes Aachen create two dangerous opportunities, with Jan Schlaudraff grabbing the ball and haring towards Robert Enke. But Enke keeps his cool and his goal clean, saving Schlaudraff's half-hearted lob easily. Just before the interval Schlaudraff bends the ball towards goal, but only hits the right inside post.

No change after the break, the host playing aggressively and longing for an equaliser, Hannover defending solidly. Emil Noll's distance effort is denied (48min), but five minutes later the home crowd is ecstatic about striker Sergio Pinto, walking to the spot: Hannover's American Steven Cherundolo tackles Mirko Casper in the area, both fall, referee Sippel blows the whistle. But Enke has a reputation for saving penalties, and lives up to it once again: the keeper parries Pinto's shot at the lower right corner, and Aachen miss their biggest chance for an equaliser so far. Hannover's Brazilian Vinicius' header two minutes later lands on top of Aachen's goal, but not in it. Hannover's row of defense grows more impenetrable for Aachen by the minute, up to 72min: Romanian substitute Laurentiu Reghecampf sends a low cross to substitute Marius Ebbers, who pushes the ball over the line from point blank position for Aachen's equaliser. The Reds increase the pressure, and are rewarded, Cherundolo winning a tackle from Casper and crossing low into goalmouth, where Thomas Brdaric and Aachen's record-breaking player Willi Landgraf wrestle for the ball. Both fall, but Brdaric somehow nudges the ball over the line (82min). Referee Sippel awards Hannover the goal, despite furious protests by Aachen's officials. Aachen makes one last effort, but Ebbers misses goal from good position.

With a pinch of luck and solid defending Hannover enter the next round of the German DFB Cup Trophy. Aachen fought hard, but forgot to capitalise. Ewald Lienen's squad though used their chances with deadly efficiency and relied once again on brilliant goalkeeper Robert Enke. Markus Weck's successful debut for the Reds raises hopes for Hannover's team, still suffering over the odds from regular players' injuries.

Statistics

Alemannia Aachen:
Nicht - Landgraf (89min Sukalo), Klitzpera, Sichone, Casper - Plasshenrich, Noll, Pinto (68min Reghecampf), Schlaudraff - Roesler, Meijer (46min Ebbers)

Hannover 96:
Enke - Cherundolo, Zuraw, Mertesacker, Vinicius - Balitsch, Lala, Weck (56min Yankov), Halfar - Hashemian (56min Stajner), Brdaric (86min Delura)

Goals: 0:1 Brdaric (9min, Penalty, assist Halfar), 1:1 Ebbers (73min, assist Reghecampf), 1:2 Brdaric (82min, assist Cherundolo)

Cautions: Meijer / -

96 keeper Robert Enke denies Sergio Pinto's penalty (53min)

Attendance: 18,098

Referee: Peter Sippel (Munich)

Game over: Hannover 96 beats Alemannia Aachen 2-1
...watch out for the report soon!!!

90th 3 minutes of extra time

88th Substitution for Aachen
...Goran Sukalo for Willi Landgraf

86th Substitution for Hannover
...Michael Delura for Thomas Brdaric

82th Goal for Hannover
...Cherundolo beats Casper and crosses to Brdaric: Goooooooooooal 1-2!

72th Goal for Aachen
...Laurentiu Reghecampf crosses in and finds Ebber's foot: Goal 1-1!

68th Substitution for Aachen
...Laurentiu Reghecampf for Sergio Pinto

58th Ebbers header over the bar
...Klitzpera crosses in to Marius Ebbers after a free-kick from Pinto

56th Substitution for Hannover
...Chavdar Yankow for Markus Weck and Jiri Staijner for Vahid Hashemian

50th Penalty for Aachen but Enke saves
...Cherundolo taclkes Mirko Casper in the box. Sergio Pinto shoots in the bottom right corner and Enke saves.

48th Corner for Aachen
...Pinto from the left, no problem for 96

45th Half time: Alemannia Aachen 0-1 Hannover 96
...the teams went into the break

45th Schlaudraff hits the post
...from the penalty area, bad luck for Aachen

42nd free-kick from Cherundolo
...to Brdaric, but Sichone prevented a shot from Brdaric

30th After 30 minutes of play Both teams
...are sharing the possession

26th Cross from Cherundolo
...from the right wing. Rösler cleared inside the box

25th Booking for Meijer
...for unsporting behaviour due to a foul against Brazilian Vinicius Bergantin

9th Goal for The Reds:
...Hannover 96 went ahead through a penalty-kick from Thomas Brdaric in the 9th, Ole...ole...ole....

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 20-man roster for the match against Aachen:

Enke, Juric, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Großöhmichen, Vinicius, Cherundolo, Halfar, Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Dietwald, Weck, Yankov, Delura, Stajner, Brdaric, Hashemian, Hahne and Montabell.

Ewald Lienen misses playmaker Ricardo Sousa who picked up an injury during Saturday's match against Bremen (torn muscle). Team Dr. Wego Kregehr believes he has to pause at least six weeks. Lienen nominated young talent Markus Weck, who is playing on the playmaker position at the 96-reserve team.

Leverkusen 1-1 Stuttgart
Dortmund 1-1 Hamburg

Hannover 96 drops down to the 12th in the standings.

Hannover 96 - Werder Bremen
8 : 14 shots
2 : 5 corners
4 : 15 crosses
47% : 53% possesions
56% : 44% +challenges
13 : 16 fouls
  10 : 5 offsides

Most shots:
96: T. Brdaric (3)
Bremen: N. Valdez (4)

Most setups:
96: J. Stajner (3)
Bremen: T. Borowski (3)

Most contacts:
96: Vinicius (96)
Bremen: P. Owomoyela (88)

Most won challenges:
96: P. Mertesacker (77%)
Bremen: F. Fahrenhorst(80%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

There were no goals in the soccer match against Bundesliga leader Werder Bremen on Saturday as The Reds deservedly gain a share of the spoils (0-0). Six minutes into the game Portoguese Ricardo Sousa had to leave the field due to injury. The Hanseats went down to 10-men following the dismissal of Frank Fahrenhorst for deliberate handball in the 82nd.

96-coach Ewald Lienen hat to replace German left back Michael Tarnat due to injury with Brazilian Bergantin Vinicius. Bremen's coach Thomas Schaaf changed his line-up on three positions: Fahrenhorst for Andreasen, Vranjes for Baumann and Valdez were playing for Klose.

Right after the kick-off Bundesliga leader Werder Bremen wanted to prove their skills with a drilled shot near the right post from German international Patrik Owomoyela (2nd).

Six minutes into the game The Red's were shocked! 96 was forced to use an early substitution as playmaker Ricardo Sousa suffered a torn muscle fibre and was replaced in the 12th minute by Bulgarian Chavdar Yankov.

Werder was the more dangerous team when they created two chances through Nelson Valdez: A cross from the strong Owomoyela in the 12th found the Paraguayan who missed the right post from 5metres. After a cross from the left wing by Schulz in the 24th, Valdez was faster than Per Mertesacker and hit the left post.

In the first half, Bremen's off-side trap frustrated the 96-offense many times. It took 28minutes when Bremen's goalkeeper Andreas Reinke was tested by the first 96-attempt through a shot from 12metres by the German international Thomas Brdarice near the left post (setup by Vinicius from the left wing).

In the 35th minute of play the ball has found Bremen's net! A long free-kick from Vinicius floated into the box where Christoph Dabrowski headed home (picture). But referee Dr. Xaver Wack wrongly called this goal off for unsporting behaviour against Bremen's goalie Reinke.

The last chance before the teams went into the break came through Valdez who headed from 7metres over the bar after a right-cross from Owomoyela in the 44th.

After the break the home side played more offensively and created two chances through Vinivious who tested Reinke after a free-kick from Yankov in the 48th. The second one came through Brdaric with a lob into Reinke's arms, brilliantly setup by Czech Jiri Stajner (52nd).

Two substitutions on Bremen's side didn't change anything, Klose for Jensen and Valdez for Micoud.

Last year's best Bundesliga goalkeeper Robert Enke saved a Klasnic pinball-wizard-attempt to a corner. Enke had his best scene four minutes later after a combintaion between Klasnic and Klose, who turned around Enke on the right and shot from a tight angle towards the left post. But the ball just hit the inner left post and Enke saved. The best chance of the match!

After a counter attack by The Red's through Iranian Vahid Hashemian and Stajner, Bremen's central defender Frank Fahrenhorst was deservedly dismissed after a handball in the 82nd (red card).

Now 96 wanted to gain three points and German Hanno Balitsch focused on target from 13metres who hit a strong attempt on goal as Reinke did a great save in the 88th (setup by strong Stajner). But the game ended goalless.

It was the first time this season when the best offense in the Bundesliga didn't score. A solid defence on The Red's side was the key for the deserved draw with a compact performance from the team. 96 moved to the 10th in the standings and have to face next Tuesday 2nd leagua club Alemannia Aachen in the FA-Cup. Bremen handed the Bundesliga lead to Bayern Munich who have won 4-0 against promoted Duisburg.

STATISTICS

Hannover 96: Enke - Balitsch, Zuraw, Mertesacker, Vinicius - Lala, Dabrowski, Sousa (12th Yankov), Halfar (75th Delura) - Stajner, Brdaric (81st Hashemian)

Werder Bremen: Reinke - Owomoyela, Fahrenhorst, Naldo, Schulz - Frings, Vranjes, Borowski, Micoud (63rd Jensen) - Klasnic (84th Andreasen), Valdez (63rd Klose)

Goals: ./.
Bookings: Balitsch / Frings, Borowski, Schulz
Dismissals: Fahrenhorst (82nd)
Referee: Dr. Xaver Wack
Attendance: 48.627 (sold out)

Picture: S. Zwing

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18-man roster for the match against Bremen:

Enke, Juric, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius, Cherundolo, Halfar, Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Sousa, Yankov, Delura, Stajner, Brdaric, Hashemian, Hahne and Montabell.

Ewald Lienen misses left back Michael Tarnat who is suffering on a torn muscle, with Brazilian Vinicius replacing him. Steven Cherundolo is back in the roster again after his knee problems (sitting on the bench).

The season including the upcoming fixtures has been updated (10th-17th Bundesliga day). Click here!

1. FC Cologne - Hannover 96
14 : 13 shots
4 : 3 corners
16 : 10 crosses
50% : 50% possesions
50% : 50% +challenges
18 : 14 fouls
  1 : 5 offsides

Most shots:
96: R. Sousa, T. Brdaric (4 each)
Cologne: A. Streit (4)

Most setups:
96: M. Tarnat, J. Stajner (3 each)
Cologne: Y. Mokhtari (3)

Most contacts:
96: J. Stajner (73)
Cologne: B. Schlicke, L. Sinkiewicz (74 each)

Most won challenges:
96: P. Mertesacker (67%)
Cologne: L. Sinkiewicz (65%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Despite Hannover 96 went one down in the 47th through Albert Streit, The Reds struck back four times with Jiri Stajner (48th, picture), Ricardo Sousa through a penalty kick, and twice German international Thoms Brdaric (53rd, 70th). After the end of the 9th Bundesliga day, this unleashing win secures Hannover the 11th spot in the table.

96-coach Ewald Lienen surprised with the youngster Soeren Halfar in the starting-11. The German left-back defender took his place as the left winger replacing Michael Delura beneath Brdaric and Stajner upfront.

Cologne's coach had to miss Feulner due to injury with Streit playing instead. German international star Lukas Podolski were sitting on the bench due to a pulled muscle with Lurling replacing him.

After the kick-off Cologne had the better start. In the 6th a shot from the dutch Lurling (14metres) has found the bar. Just a few minutes later 96-keeper Robert Enke brillintly saved a header by Springer round the right post (setup by Mokhtari from the right wing).

But Cologne's dominationa has gone and The Reds were gaining the upper hand resulting in the next chance when Portoguese Sousa crossed in from 20 metres with Mertesacker and Bradric missing by a hair's breadth (14th). Polish Dariusz Zuraw had the best chance after 33minutes of play: A free-kick from the left by Michael Tarnat floated into the penalty area with Zuraw heading near the right post with just one inch to spare.

The teams went goalless into the break. Right after the beginning of the second half, Cologne went ahead when Madsen passed to Podolski (to new in the game) who missed the ball, but Albert Streit was waiting behind to struck from 6metres into the net (47th). Seconds later Sousa sent in a long free-kick from the right wing finding Stajner on the far post to fulfil his duty. The Czech scored his 3rd goal this season and Hannover equalised to 1-1 (48th).

Five minutes later The Reds went ahead: Jiri Stajner passed to Dabrowski on the right who delivered a perfect cross to the far post for Brdaric to fire home (53rd), 1-2.

And 96 was coming! Soren Halfar was tackled from Sinkiewicz and Mokhtari in the penalty area, and the referee blowed the whistle. It was a clear penalty decision. Ricardo Souso didn't leave Wessels any chance converting the penalty into the top left (55th), 1-3. It was his first goal this season. Cologne was beaten then.

After a mistake by Grammozis best man on the field Jiri Stajner setup Thomas Brdaric who strucked from 14 metres into the bottom left corner to the final result 1-4.

Hannover celebrated a deserved win earning three points on the road with a compact defence and a great offense with Brdaric and Stajner. 96 moved to the 11th in the table. It took more than 30 years when The Reds have scored four times on the road.

STATISTICS

1. FC Cologne: Wessels - Lell, Schlicke, Sinkiewicz, Springer - Grammozis (72. Sinkala), Schindzielorz (46. Podolski) - Streit, Mokhtari, Lurling - Madsen (72. Epstein)

Hannover 96: Enke - Balitsch, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala (84. Vinicius), Dabrowski - Sousa - Stajner, Brdaric (84. Hashemian), Halfar (77. Delura),

Goals: 1:0 Streit (47., Madsen), 1:1 Stajner (48., Sousa), 1:2 Brdaric (53., Dabrowski), 1:3 Sousa (56., penalty kick, Halfar), 1:4 Brdaric (70., Stajner)

Cautions: Lurling / Lala, Brdaric, Zuraw

Referee: Dr. Markus Merk (Otterbach)

Attendance: 50,000 (sold out)

Picture: S. Zwing

96-head coach Ewald Lienen announces 18-man roster for the match against Cologne:

Enke, Juric, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Vinicius, Tarnat, Halfar, Balitsch, Lala, Dabrowski, Sousa, Yankov, Delura, Stajner, Brdaric, Hashemian, Hahne and Montabell.

Schalke - Bayern 1:1
Hamburg - Wolfsburg 0:1
Lautern - Dortmund 3:3
Bremen - Nuremberg 6:2
Stuttgart - Gladbach 1:1
Mainz - Leverkusen 3:1
Bielefeld - Hertha 3:0

Friendlies:

Germany 1-0 China (Per Mertesacker, 45minutes for Germany)
Four days after their painful 2-1 loss in Istanbul against Turkey, Germany defeated China in Hamburg but still have plenty of work to do as they prepare to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals.

South Korea 2-0 Iran (Vahid Hashemian for Iran)
South Korea have won the friendly through goals from Cho Won-Hee (1th) and Kim Jin-Kyu (90th).

World Cup Qualifying:

Albania 0 - 1 Turkey (Altin Lala, 90minutes for Albania)
Turkey secured a place in the FIFA World Cup play-offs after Tümer Metin's goal gave them victory in Albania in their final qualifying match. It was their first win in four visits to Tirana, and earns them second place in Group 2, eliminating Denmark and European champions Greece in the process.

Finland 0 - 3 Czech Republic (Jiri Stajner, 4minutes for the Czech Republic)
The Czech Republic kept their cool in Finland to ensure a FIFA World Cup play-off berth at the expense of Romania.

Malta 1 - 1 Bulgaria (Chavdar Yankov, 90 minutes and 1 goal for Bulgaria)
Bulgaria went ahead throug a goal from the 96er Chavdar Yankov in the 67thminute. Substitute Etienne Barbara struck with eleven minutes remaining to earn Malta a share of the spoils against Bulgaria in FIFA World Cup qualifying Group 8 to provide outgoing coach Horst Heese with a farewell fillip.

Hannover 96 have won a friendly against 6th-league club 1. FC Zeitz 6-0 infront of 2,460 spectators. Next Sunday The Reds have to face Cologne in the Bundesliga.

STATISTICS

Hannover 96 (1st half): Enke, Melich, Halstenberg, Zuraw, Halfar, Dabrowski, Weck, Sousa, Delura, Brdaric, Hahne

Hannover 96 (2nd half): Juric, Yankson, Halstenberg, Frontzeck, Tarnat, Canizales-Smith, Kruse, Schinner, Schulz, Montabell, Kossatz

Goals: 0:1 Hahne (11.), 0:2 Delura (15.), 0:3 Kossatz (53.), 0:4 Montabell (54.), Schulz (71.), Halstenberg (87.)

Attendance: 2,460

Hannover 96 - MSV Duisburg
16 : 6 shots
10 : 1 corners
24 : 4 crosses
59% : 41% possesions
50% : 50% +challenges
16 : 21 fouls
  6 : 4 offsides

Most shots:
96: J. Stajner, T. Brdaric (3 each)
Duisburg: D. Lottner, A. Ahanfouf, M. Kurth (2 each)

Most setups:
96: M. Tarnat, R. Sousa (4 each)
Duisburg: D. Lottner, A. Ahanfouf (2 each)

Most contacts:
96: M. Tarnat (116)
Duisburg: A. Meyer (56)

Most won challenges:
96: H. Balitsch (74%)
Duisburg: U. Moehrle (88%)

Source: IMP-Fussballdaten

Dortmund 0-0 Stuttgart
Lautern 0-3 Hamburg

The away team's keeper holds on to a point, and saves the day for the "Zebras" from the Ruhr valley. The 96 squad display heavy superiority in the second half of the second half, but there is no final reward. The crowd at the AWD Arena watch two early goals -Michael Delura for the Reds (8min), followed by Abdelaziz Ahanfouf's sudden equaliser (14min)- and tragic substitute Jiri Stajner (picture): one goal disallowed (77min), and one penalty saved by Duisburg's keeper Georg Koch (84min).

The same old story: troubled by ill-fated injuries with several regular players, 96 head coach Ewald Lienen ordered five changes to the starting line-up. Defenders Steven Cherundolo (irritated knee) and Vinicius (muscle fibre ligature) were replaced with Hanno Balitsch and Dariusz Zuraw. Vahid Hashemian and Michael Delura returned to the starting formation, leaving Hendrik Hahne and Jiri Stajner sidelined. Ricardo Sousa celebrates his premiere as key player in 96's new system with three forwards. MSV Duisburg changed on one position, Namibian international Razundara Tjikuzu dropping to the bench to make way for Carsten Wolters.

The host team was eager to please the home crowd after last week's three defeats in a row, and there was a speedy reward for hopeful supporters. Eight minutes into the match, Portuguese Ricardo Sousa aims his corner kick at the far post, German international Per Mertesacker nods the ball into goalmouth, where former Schalke player Michael Delura swiftly pushes the ball over the line from three metres. Duisburg had their answer rehearsed though: six minutes later former Manchester City defender Michael Tarnat loses a tackle short of the centre line, Tobias Willi grabs the ball, zig-zaggs past three hesitating Reds to play a cross to unmarked Moroccan-born Abdelaziz Ahanfouf at the left edge of the box, who nets the unstoppable ball from 12 metres, leaving Robert Enke not a chance. The host seems shocked, and the fast-paced match slows considerably. Former FC Cologne player Dirk Lottner creates one opportunity for Duisburg with a hard free kick from 30 metres, but Robert Enke stretches for an impressive save (25min). Shortly after Tarnat's cross from the left finds Hanno Balitsch at the far post, who helps the ball on with a header into goalmouth, but Duisburg's alert keeper Georg Koch parries the ball with his fists just before agile Hashemian can get to it (29min). Duisburg's striker Markus Kurth misses out on two top class opportunities, first hitting only the left side net of goal from 13 metres after winning a tackle against Mertesacker (32min), only to pick up Lottner's dream of a long ball a minute later: he advances on goal alone and unmarked, but his effort from 15 metres is frustrated by brilliant Enke. To round off the first half, convincing Ricardo Sousa takes Hashemian's through ball on the left and sends it on towards Thomas Brdaric, waiting in goalmouth, but Duisburg defender Uwe Moehrle scoops the ball up to deflect it into the outside of the net, almost catching Koch unaware (34min).

Hannover begins the second half with aggressive play, but the Reds are more than once stopped short of the Zebras' box. Duisburg fence themselves in in their own half and wait for counter attacks. Thomas Brdaric's effort after one hour from Tarnat's left cross proves the first good opportunity for the Reds, but he only hits defender Thomas Baelum's arm (62min). Four minutes later Lottner's free kick is helped on by Ahanfouf at the penalty spot, but vigilant Enke saves the day.

The exceptional final stages of the second half are marked by Jiri Stajner's arrival on the pitch (68min). The Reds create numerous opportunities and choke Duisburg in their own half. Hashemian's rocket shot from a corner is frustrated by audacious Ahanfouf, blocking the trajectory, seconds later Koch buries Brdaric's back-headed header from six metres (70min). Then comes the 77th minute: Tarnat hammers a free kick from 17 metres into the wall, Stajner follows the ball up and nets it in the right corner of the goal. But referee Manuel Graefe disallows the leading goal with his controversial decision: Brdaric was in passive offside position near Duisburg's keeper Koch, the referee interpreting it as active offside position. The Reds are not willing to pack it in, and keep coming. Ricardo Sousa's spectacular centre pass lands spot on for Stajner, who jumos up high and helps the ball on towards target with the back of his head, but Koch is on his toes and lifts the ball just over the bar (80min). The cracking chance for a well-deserved victory was yet to come for Lienen's squad. Sousa enters the box and is swept off his feet by Moroccan Ahanfouf. Graefe points to the penalty spot. But not the two designated players (Michael Tarnat and Thomas Brdaric respectively), but Jiri Stajner walks to the spot! Georg Koch deflects the weak shot and saves a lucky point for last season's promotion Dusiburg (84min).

Despite determination, resolve and strength of character the Reds were missing a bit of luck in today's fixture. The sudden equaliser shocked Lienen's squad early on in the first half, but they returned with a vengeance to the second, just to be frustrated by controversial refereeing and Stajner's botched attempt at a penalty. Portuguese Ricardo Sousa's performed convincingly in his debut as key player, organizing the central midfield.

Statistics

Hannover 96: Enke - Balitsch, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala, Dabrowski - Ricardo Sousa - Delura, Hashemian, Brdaric

MSV Duisburg: G. Koch - Wolters, Möhrle, Biliskov, A. Meyer - Baelum - Willi, Lottner, Bugera - Ahanfouf, Kurth

Goals: 1-0 Delura (8., Mertesacker), 1-1 Ahanfouf (14., Willi)

Substitutions: 68. Stajner for Delura, 87. Yankov for Ricardo Sousa, 90. for Lala - 60. Anfang for Wolters, 68. Rietpietsch for Lottner, 83. Grlic for Ahanfouf

Referee: Graefe
Attendance: 27211
Bookings: Lala, Tarnat - Koch