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| 05/17/06 | - | Celtic fans in Hannover |
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Celtic fans were visiting Hannover on Saturday to watch the game against
Bayer 04 Leverkusen. James McQuillan a member of the group of Celtic fans
said "we had a brilliant time on Saturday. We all agreed that our
experience at Hannover is certainly up there with some of the best grounds
we have been to, and are very envious of the atmosphere that is created
in the ground".Here are some words about the background of our friends from Scotland written by James Lamb: "We are all Celtic fans and members of Heriot-Watt and Edinburgh Universities Celtic Supporters Club. Our Club was formed in 1984 to help students attend Celtic matches and we now have around 200 members, 15 of whom went to Germany last week. Many of our members are students or previously attended universities in Edinburgh. Over the years we have enjoyed many visits to Germany to watch football games, starting in 1992 with a UEFA Cup tie against FC Cologne. Since then we have visited Dortmund, Stuttgart and Munich to watch UEFA Cup or Champions League matches and we also watched an Eintracht Frankfurt match on the way back from another journey. Our most recent visit to Germany was in December when we visited Hamburg to see FC St Pauli play Werder Bremen II and then the next day we went to watch Werder Bremen play Duisburg. Before we went to see Hannover 96 against Bayer Leverkusen, we have been at Hamburg to watch FC St Pauli. None of us have been to Hannover before so we were looking forward to visiting a new ground and meeting new fans. One of our group is due to get married this year therefore we decided to celebrate his last days of 'freedom' by visiting Germany for some football games in Germany? This has also been helped by the fact that Celtic we're eliminated from the Champions League at the qualifying stage this season therefore we haven't had the usual opportunity for European adventures. There are many attractions to German football. Unlike in Scotland, you can stand at matches, which seems to make a better atmosphere. Also, thefact that you can have a beer whilst watching the game makes the match much more of a social occasion. The stadiums are also impressive and there tends to be large crowds and lots of colour." James Lamb |
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| 05/16/06 | - | 96-Quartet at the World Cup |
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It's official now:
Hannover 96 will have four players on international duty: Steven Cherundolo
will be playing for the USA, Vahid Hashemian for Iran, Jiri Stajner
for the Chzeh Republik and Per Mertesacker for Germany. The World Cup
begins on June 9th. |
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| 05/14/06 | - | STATISTICS: Hannover 96 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen |
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Hannover 96 vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen
17 : 8 shots on goal 6 : 2 corners 12 : 8 crosses 48% : 52% possession 47% : 53% tackles won 22 : 15 fouls 5 : 10 offsides Most shots on goal: 96: C. Yankov (4) Leverkusen: S. Rolfes, D. Berbatov, J. Krzynowek (2) Most setups: 96: J. Stajner (6) Leverkusen: B. Schneider (3) Most ball contact: 96: J. Stajner (77) Leverkusen: C. Fritz (70) Percentage of tackles won: 96: P. Mertesacker (69%) Leverkusen: Roque Junior (71%) Source: IMP-Fussballdaten |
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| 05/13/06 | - | A draw again...The Reds finish on 12th position |
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47,000 spectators have seen an exciting match at
the AWD-Arena when Hannover 96 drew 2:2 (1:2) with Bayer 04 Leverkusen.
Per Mertesacker (picture) put 96 ahead in the 14th while the guests leveled
the result two minuts later through Simon Rolfes (16th). Leverkusen's
top scorer Dimitar Berbatov took the lead minutes before the interval
(38th), but Chavdar Yankov's equaliser saved the day for The Reds in the
52nd minute of play. Hannover 96 finish 12th in the table.
It was the guests who belonged the first scene during a great atmosphere and weahter at the AWD-Arena, when German Paul Freier's attempt from the penalty spot missed the left post in the 6th. The Reds who were wearing their next season's outfit, took the lead with their first chance. Czech international Jiri Stajner's corner kick from the left has found German Christph Dabrowski who deliverd to German international Per Mertesacker who finished with a header into the top left corner (14th, picture). It was his fith goal during a standard situation. Right when crowds were still yelling, the equalizer fell for Leverkusen.
A precise cross from Freier allowed German Simon Rolfes heading home
for the guests leaving novice Jensen no chance (16th). It was again a corner kick from Stajner that created a great opportunaty
for The Reds: German Hanno Balitsch delivered the ball to Polish Daruisz
Zuraw whose header was saved by Bernd Schneider on the line. Balitsch
took that rebound from 6 metres and missed the right post with a few
inches to spare (31st). Just 4 minutes after the break the homeside created their next chance with a great combination between US international Steven Cherundolo and Stajner. Cherundolo, inside the right box, delivered to Yankov, who just hit the left outside netting (49th). But moments later the Bulgarian has done better. Albanian international Altin Lala has beaten Rolfes infront of the box and sent a great pass to Yankov on the left wing who drilled his shot into the far corner (52nd). By then the guests had tested Hannover's defence twice with fine right deliveries from trialist Krzynowek (58th) and Berbatov (61st). The play got poor in the last third and the more dangerous scenes have been seen infront of Leverkusen's goal. Butt was lucky when his missed pass to Brazilian Roque Junior got to 96 striker Thomas Brdaric who hit outside netting in the 65th. Then German Michael Delura came in for Brdaric. Delura couldn't convert a perfect cross from Cherundolo in the 80th with a shot over the bar. It was the 17th share of spoils this season with a good performance
on Hannover's side. "Chak" Yankov played his best match for
96 this season while Per Mertesacker obviously can't wait to prove his
skills during the world championships for Germany. Danish Jonas Troest
who replaced injured Vinicius left back has shown a solid performance.
Hannover closed this season on 12th position in the table, while Bayer
Leverkusen will play UEFA-Cup next season. After a dramatic 2:2 draw
between Wolfsburg and Kaiserslautern, the "Wolves" avoided
relegation and the 1. FC Kaiserslautern went down into the second division.
Hamburg have lost 1:2 at home against Bremen which means, that Bremen
have reached the second Champions league place and Hamburg has to go
into the CL-qualification round. Congratulations to Wolfsburg and Bremen! |
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| 05/06/06 | - | Vinicius scores super saver, Reds stay up with a 2 all tie |
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Substitute Vinicius levels the result (89min) in
the season's last away match playing Borussia Moenchengladbach, providing
for the crucial last point that relieves Hannover of relegation fears.
The Brazilian defender's last-minute equaliser in the 2-2 (1-0) tie adds
to a total of 16 draws for the Reds this season. The early lead through
German international Per Mertesacker (13min) for Hannover is turned into
the home side's near victory, with goals through Marcell Jansen (77min)
and Wesley Sonck (83min). But Vinicius strikes with his first season goal
for the Reds just when it is needed most urgently. Replacement goalkeeper
Frank Juric proves his skills in a lively match with many opportunities
on both sides.
Many injured regulars trouble Hannover's head coach Peter Neururer, so four changes to the defeated 'Dortmund squad' were deemed necessary. Second keeper Frank Juric covers for Robert Enke (broken rib), Christoph Dabrowski and Daniel Stendel stand in for Silvio Schroeter (thigh) and Jiri Stajner (calf), with Darius Zuraw filling in for Brazilian defender Vinicius, who dropped to the bench. The 2-5 defeat in Nuremberg made Gladbach's coach Horst Koeppel change his starting formation only on one position. Young sweeper Flessers is the name of choice, banning forward Rafael to the bench. Borussia Moenchengladbach, after many dismal appearances recently, have some peacemaking to do in their last home match. 'The Foals' get off to the better start with a pretty build-up involving Polanski and Neuville, who is denied by Juric (7min). But Hannover shake off their respect and create some great openings. American Steven Cherundolo passes to Bulgarian Chavdar Yankov, who sets up Michael Tarnat with a heel kick, but the fullback at the left edge of the area just misses the net (9min). But Tarnat redeems himself with one of his deadly free kicks from the right, that connects precisely with Per Mertesacker in mid-air, whose bullet header impacts between the posts for the lead (13min). The Foals' flawed defence line is shaken to the bones by the early setback. Gladbach's keeper, American international Kasey Keller, defuses Hanno Balitsch's volley shot only three minutes later (16min). The Reds rely on superior possession and clever zonal marking to tire their opponents. Hannover's replacement keeper only has to show his class when Wesley Sonck's weak attempt lands in Juric's safe hands (24min). Gladbach then start a quite impressive offensive run on Hannover's goal, with Neuville's howler lob that hits the post (28min), Sonck's near miss from Neuville's precise pass (33min), and Jansen's heel kick from Neuville's corner that Juric saves without effort (43min). 1-0 No change after the break, with a dominant home side and defensive visitors. Sonck is denied by Juric (47min), Tarnat gets to the ball in Hannover's goalmouth before Broich can, sliding in at the right post (55min). Sonck almost scores with his artistic overhead kick from Svensson's header into the area, but the ball only drops onto the goal top (59min). The Red counterattacks though prove dangerous, with 'Foal'-keeper Keller parrying Thomas Brdaric's sharp effort (64min), and Mertesacker barely missing Vinicius' header into the area from Tarnat's cross (69min). But just as the Reds seem to gain the upper hand, Gladbach levels the result, benefiting from Hannover's disarray in their own backyard. Vinicius blocks Jansen's first shot at target, but cannot prevent the second, a spectacular leaning bicycle kick that lowers itself into the top left corner of the goal (77min). Pushed forward by enthusiastic home crowds, the Foals are hungry for the lead after four fixtures without victory. And the hosts duly succeed with Sonck's low concealed shot from 18 metres, set up by substitute Rafael, that hits target inside the right post, giving Gladbach the lead (83min). More opportunities follow suit on both sides, like Zé Antonio's header (85min), or young substitute Hendrik Hahne's blooper one-to-one with Keller (86min), but it looks like the hosts are heading for a home win. But Gladbach's defence line spoils everything for the home team, and so they have to share the spoils: A bungled defensive header deflecting Tarnat's mighty throw-in lands with Vinicius, who grabs the Foals by their mane and hammers his volley shot from 21 metres at target and into the net, leaving Keller not the slightest chance (89min). Two goals each, two lively teams and many opportunities on both sides provided for an entertaining afternoon between opponents on an equal footing. Replacement keeper Frank Juric impressively covers for regular Robert Enke. Hannover 96 keep out of the struggle against relegation, looking forward to yet another season in the top German league, the Bundesliga. The Reds can once more rely on strong Michael Tarnat and his experience and expertise, and joker goals by Brazilian defender Vinicius. The Reds congratulate 1. FC Bayern Muenchen for securing the Double twice in succession, one week before the final match day on May 13. The German record champions win their 20th 'Meisterschaft', drawing 1-1 away against Kaiserslautern, but profiting from rivalling Hamburger SV's 2-4 defeat playing Hertha BSC Berlin in the German capital. Borussia M'gladbach: Keller - Fukal, B. Svensson, Zé Antonio, Daems - Fleßers - Kluge, Jansen - Polanski - Sonck, Neuville - Coach: Köppel Hannover 96: Juric - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Zuraw, Tarnat - Lala - Balitsch, Dabrowski, Yankov - Stendel, Brdaric - Coach: Neururer Goals: 0:1 Mertesacker (13., header, assist by Tarnat), 1:1 Jansen (77., left shot, assist by Fleßers), 2:1 Sonck (83., right shot, assist by Rafael), 2:2 Vinicius (89., right shot) Substitutions: 19. Broich for Kluge, 78. Rafael for Fleßers, 87. Compper for Broich - 65. Vinicius for Lala, 72. Delura for Yankov, 83. Hahne for Stendel Referee: Gagelmann Attendance: 51,498 Bookings:  Daems,
Jansen -
Balitsch |
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| 05/02/06 | - | Duped by dull Dortmund–daring Reds lose 1-2 at AWD Arena |
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Despite opportunities galore, the lead before the
interval and a dull away side the Reds suffer a 1-2 (1-0) home defeat
playing Borussia Dortmund. German international Per Mertesacker scores
the highly deserved 1-0 (44min) with one of his mighty headers, but Hannover
forget to close the pincers on the guests. From one down the visitors
from the Ruhrgebiet turn the match around with lucky goals through Tomas
Rosicky (59min, free kick) and Christian Woerns (81min, header). Hannover
might now even be drawn into the struggle against relegation, two match
days away from the end of the Bundesliga season.
 Head
coach Peter Neururer is lucky to include ailing star goalkeeper Robert
Enke and forward Silvio Schroeter in his starting lineup. Albanian captain
Altin Lala returns from serving fifth-yellow suspension, swapping places
with Christoph Dabrowski (suspended). Forward Thomas Brdaric is first
choice again, with Michael Delura dropping to the bench, and Dariusz Zuraw
taking the seat beside him after injury break, Vinicius yet again filling
the Pole's position in central defence. Dortmund coach Bert van Marwijk
places Buckley for Amoah, Metzelder for injured Brzenska, and Sebastian
Kehl for Kruska on his team-sheet.The Reds get off to a furious start with an early attempt through Thomas Brdaric from Altin Lala's pass, but are denied by Dortmund's excellent keeper Dennis Gentenaar (2min). Hannover have the best part of possession and choke the visitors in their own half. Hanno Balitsch invades the area and crosses to Michael Tarnat, who just misses the right top corner of goal (17min). Injury-prone Silvio Schroeter sadly has to leave the pitch after 20 minutes with thigh trouble for substitute defender Dariusz Zuraw, causing a strategic reshuffle with Vinicius moving up forward. Dortmund shortly after have their first and only clear opportunity in the first half, but Kehl's distance effort is saved by alert Robert Enke (21min). Chavdar Yankov's deflected attempt is held in play by Vinicius, who flicks on to Thomas Brdaric, who in turn cannot capitalise with his header that bounces off the post (24min). Goalie Gentenaar shows fantastic reflexes when confronted with Thomas Brdaric's rocket volley from 12 metres, after Brdaric's spectacular lob over his marker Christian Woerns (27min). Dortmund seem completely AWOL. Bulgarian international Chavdar Yankov's distance strike is only just helped around the left post (41min), Dariusz Zuraw's header from the resulting corner almost bends the aluminium crossbar (42min). Per Mertesacker wins in the air against marker and national squad colleague Metzelder, and converts with a hefty header from seven metres, relieving the tension on the terraces (44min). Dortmund go one down and into the break with an extremely flattering result. 1-0 The guests replace Buckley with Amoah, but Dortmund's play remains viscous and dull. Hannover seek the decider, but need several minutes to pick up where they left before half time. Thomas Brdaric only just misses Jiri Stajner's powerful cross (56min). Dortmund's coach Bert van Marwijk replaces Sahin with Czech international Tomas Rosicky and lands a lucky punch. American international Steven Cherundolo stops Ebi Smolarek somewhat abruptly at the edge of the area, Rosicky takes aim for the resulting free kick and bends the ball over the wall into the top left corner of goal, scoring the equalizer for Dortmund (59min). The Reds are shell-shocked, but not for long. Hannover dominate play and create several opportunities. Michael Tarnat's free kick from 22 metres is saved by Gentenaar (65min), and combined play from Yankov and Jiri Stajner is sadly not rewarded by Vinicius' wide effort from 14 metres (67min). Clearly Hannover are closer to the lead than the away side. Hanno Balitsch cannot quite control Steven Cherundolo's cross (69min), and is later denied by Gentenaar in a duplicate situation from eight metres (74min). Another double attempt ends in frustration: Dariusz Zuraw appears unmarked before the Dutch keeper, but Gentenaar parries the ball, Hanno Balitsch taking on the rebound, but Dortmund's defender Woerns scrapes the ball off the line and deflects it onto the crossbar (77min). Disaster strikes when Zuraw misjudges Dede's arching ball, and the same Woerns that prevents Hannover's lead scores the lucky lead for Dortmund with a lobbed header over advancing Robert Enke, to the utter disbelief of home supporters (81min). The same Woerns, whose appearance in Hannover was highly controversial, as he is currently faced with long-term suspension for crassly unsporting behaviour against Nuremberg's Kiessling. The same Woerns who was recently kicked out of the national squad after publicly insulting national team manager Juergen Klinsmann - Fate's sick joke to many supporters. In a race against the clock Hannover try desperately for the equalizer, but cannot succeed until full time. The wrong side is presented with a three-point reward. Hannover play a glorious game full of determination, dedication and excellent opportunities for their home side. But once again they cannot capitalise from opportunities galore. Dortmund's excellent keeper Gentenaar saves his team from utter humiliation, but all the same the visitors are the lucky laughing winners. The Reds haven't achieved a home victory against Dortmund in 36 years. Czech striker Jan Koller celebrates his comeback from long-lasting injury trouble in the 72th minute of the match, after months of rehab. With this home defeat Hannover are in danger to be pulled into the struggle against relegation, two match days away from the season's final on May 13. Hannover 96: Enke - Cherundolo, Mertesacker, Vinicius, Tarnat - Lala - Schröter, Balitsch - Yankov - Stajner, Brdaric - Coach: Neururer Borussia Dortmund: Gentenaar - P. Degen, Wörns, C. Metzelder, Dede - N. Sahin, Kehl, Kringe - Odonkor, Smolarek, Buckley - Coach: Van Marwijk Goals: 1:0 Mertesacker (44., Header, assist by Tarnat), 1:1 Rosicky (59., Free kick, right shot), 1:2 Wörns (81., header, assist by Dede) Substitutions: 20. Zuraw for Schröter, 65. Delura for Vinicius - 46. Amoah for Buckley, 56. Rosicky for N. Sahin, 72. Koller for Odonkor Referee: Fleischer, Dr. Attendance: 41,387 Bookings: Cherundolo
- Kringe,
C. Metzelder,
Odonkor, Rosicky
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| GTB | Imprint |
Many
injured regulars trouble Hannover's head coach Peter Neururer during
the season final, 18 year old third goal keeper Morten Jensen who is
giving his debut covers injured Robert Enke (rib contusion) and second
goalie Frank Juric (knee problems) who was against Dortmund between
the posts. Brasilian Vinicius replaces Michael Tarnat (pulled muscle)
on the left back position. Leverkusen's head coach Michael Skibbe employed
Roque Junior as central defender who were replacing Juan.