Elias Kachunga's third goal of the season earned SC Paderborn 07's first home win in the Bundesliga following a heroic performance from the striker, who's becoming a fan favourite.
In a half which Paderborn dominated for the most of, Kachunga found himself open at the far post, making no mistake in finding the back of the net. Following his goal, the striker nearly added his second of the game with a header from seven yards.
Moritz Stoppelkamp sealed the three points for Paderborn, scoring from the edge of his own penalty area in to an empty net.
Andre Breitenreiter made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 against fellow promoted team, 1.FC Köln. In came Süleyman Koç in place of summer signing Lukas Rupp, whilst there was also a first start for Michael Heinloth, replacing Marvin Bakalorz.
Following their 2-0 win against struggling Hamburg, Tayfun Korkut also made two changes to the team. Christian Pander replaces Miiko Albornoz who picked up an injury during training, whilst Ceyhun Gülselam replaced Leon Andreasen who dropped to the bench.
As two of the remaining eight unbeaten Bundesliga teams battled it out over 90 minutes, it was Paderborn who started off the most dominant, with Mario Vrancic forcing a save from Ron-Robert Zieler after just two minutes played. The 25-year old already has one goal to his name this season which came in a 3-0 victory of Hamburg.
Elias Kachunga continued his fine start to the season as he almost turned provider for his strike partner Koç, if only it wasn't for a last minute block Hannover 96 defender, Christian Schulz.
Former Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Leonadro Bittencourt nearly put his side 1-0 up after 23 minutes. The ball fell to the 20-year old whose left-footed volley forced the save from Lukas Kruse. Despite dominating the possession stats with 59% after 25 minutes, Hannover have not looked threatening with the ball, whilst Paderborn have mustered up four shots in that time.
Five minutes from half-time, Knut Kircher turned down a penalty appeal from Paderborn after Vrancic was brought down in the box, however, the referee deemed the midfielder fell too easily have been shoved in the back. Just seconds later and Koç forced Zieler in to another save after cutting inside from the left-hand side, curling the ball to the far post only for the German international to deny the striker.
Daniel Brückner came close to putting Paderborn after the restart after getting on the end of a cross from Stoppelkamp but the effort was blocked.
It was Korkut who was the first of the managers to buckle under pressure, bringing on Andreasen in place of Manuel Schmiedebach in the heart of midfield.
Hannover were then looking the more dangerous in the second half; with Marcelo and Joselu both winning their aerial duels in the box, but both heading over the crossbar. However, it was Koç with the best chance out of them all for Paderborn, Jens Wemmer crossed to the unmarked striker who should have found the back of the net with 25 minutes left to play.
Persistence paid off for Kachunga as he put Paderborn ahead after 71 minutes, scoring his third goal of the season in four games. The 22-year old found himself unmarked at the far post, after a costless-kick was whipped in, the German showed his prowess in front of goal, firing the ball past Zieler from three yards.
Not that Paderborn needed it, but Kachunga's goal was a performance booster, with the German nearly adding a second just moments later, getting on the end of Wemmer's cross. A long-range effort from the 22-year old didn't do enough to trouble the Hannover keeper as Paderborn were trying to see the game out ten minutes from time.
Hearts in mouths moments for home fans as Hannover piled players forward, summer signings Jimmy Briand and Joselu came close to getting an equaliser.
However, seconds from the final whistle, Paderborn doubled their lead with a brilliant strike for Stoppelkamp. The midfielder scored from the edge of his own penalty box, striking the ball on the half-volley, which found its way in to the back of the net after Hannover had pushed everyone up for a corner, sending the fans into a frenzy.
Paderborn's first Bundesliga home win of their season now sees them second in the table, tied on eight points with Hoffenheim and champions, Bayern Munich.