Hecking’s two super subs, Bas Dost and Maximillian Arnold, seal three crucial away points against Hannover, who prior to this game had only lost two games at the HDI-Arena all season.
The breakthrough came through from Kevin De Bruyne after a mix up in the Hannover defence and a headed Perisic through ball left the Belgian one-on-one with Zieler and the midfielder finished calmly. Wolfsburg, whom were in the driving seat at this time, continued to pile on the pressure as Ricardo Rodriguez fired wide of the mark following Kevin De Bruyne’s corner was headed clear. Then, moment’s later veteran Ivica Olic saw his header easily saved by Zieler.
Following a heavy spell of Wolfsburg pressure, Hannover pressed time after time, Kiyotake’s costless kick forced Benaglio into an awkward save following Luis Gustavo’s debatable late tackle of Lars Stindl. Other than that it was just half chances for Hannover, as Guselam’s shot deflected wide. Another chance came from an unlikely source, defender Christian Schulz pounced on a deflected shot but his attempted lob was wide of the mark. Then, finally the lead was was no more on the stroke of half time. Joselu got the long awaited equaliser, Jimmy Briand burst down the left side and clipped in to the six-yard box where the Spaniard was waiting and his diving header levelled the scores.
The teams went in the break, Wolfsburg held on for forty-one minutes but Joselu’s diving header sent the home side in level. Hannover had the vast majority of the possession and the pressure in the first half. It was a very tame start to the second half, both sides exchanged shots, but neither were of any note. On the sixty-fourth minute the former Swiss number one made a remarkable save. After brilliant build up play and a superb knockdown from Briand, Joselu swivelled on a six pence but his shot was superbly stopped.
Bas Dost, who’d been on the pitch for four minutes, doubled Wolfsburg’s lead. Perisic’s dinked diagonal into the six yard box was perfect and it was met by Dost to make it 2-1 for the visitors. Wolfsburg looked to put the game to bed, having a number of chances to finish the hosts off, though Dost’s right-footed shot stung Zieler’s hands and Naldo’s header went straight to the Hannover 'keeper.
With four minutes left to play, yet another substitute scorer, Maximillian Arnold, sealed all three points, Perisic again was the provider who received a brilliant back heel from De Bruyne, the Croatian held up the play and played a perfectly weighted pass for Arnold, who slotted under the oncoming Zieler. Wolfsburg still had time to add insult to injury as Perisic, again, set Dost through who went one-on-one with Zieler. He dinked it past the keeper but the ball trickled the wrong side of the post.
Hannover failed to bring their first half form into the second half and failed to create a single chance. Hannover miss the chance to jump into 7th with a win following Hoffenheim’s loss yesterday, at the end of the weekend Hannover could slump to 11th, IF results don’t go their way. Hecking’s super subs seal win for Wolfsburg makes it two in two for Wolfsburg and they stay second just five points off leaders Bayern with just three games until the winter break.