Sandhausen had to wait until the second-half until they were able to open the scoring, following a largely even first period. Aziz Bouhaddouz finished off a final team goal and the Hardtwaldstadion was treated to Sascha Mockenhaupt's incredibly unlucky own goal to seal a hugely important three points.
Sandhausen were slowly beginning to turn away from a relegation battle and a nil-nil draw with SpVgg Greuther Fürth was further helping their cause. Alois Schwartz made just once change from that game, as Timo Achenbach returned in place of Leart Paqarada.
Aalen were also showing signs that they had the ability to pull clear of the drop-zone. Drawing 1-1 with table-toppers FC Ingolstadt when it could have been so much more showed that they meant business and the introduction of Michael Klauß for Andreas Ludwig and Mazimilian Welzmüller for Andreas Hofmann hinted at a more attacking approach.
Aalen almost took the lead inside the opening ten minutes, as Collin Quaner stayed calm despite the bedlam in the Sandhausen box to fire a shot towards goal. It looked like it was about to creep over the line, until it was hacked away by Florian Hübner. The clearance hit Quaner, although he could do nothing to redirect the ball on target.
The hosts responded with a chance of their own, who couldn't believe they weren't ahead through it. Aziz Bohaddouz spun his marker and threaded a brilliant ball across to Andrew Wooten, but the American couldn't stretch himself far enough to force it home and the chance was gone.
Sandhausen went closer still soon after and forced a first-class stop from Daniel Bernhardt. The ball fell kindly to Denis Linsmayer from a half-cleared corner, though the midfielder showed great technique to thunder a volley toward goal; dipping and swerving, the Aalen stopper shot out a strong hand to tip it over the bar.
Both sides had their chances, but neither could make them count. Aalen's best opportunity fell to Klauß, but the forward drove his shot well wide of the goal and that meant the teams would go in level at half-time.
A lack of quality in the final third was preventing either team from turning their battling performances into something more than the dull draw that was playing out. Though Linsmayer was once again denied by a similarly brilliant stop to that in the first-half by an inspired Bernhardt.
That seemed to be the catalyst for an increase in tempo, along with Solomon Okoronkwo's introduction, which saw Sandhausen take the lead. His cross found Stiefler and he produced a fantastic controlled header for Bouhaddouz, the forward finished with aplomb and the deadlock was finally broken.
The visitors really began to turn the screw in the search of an equaliser; try as the might, however, the ball just wouldn't fall their way and it was Sandhausen who doubled their lead.
It was a freak own goal from Sascha Mockenhaupt, who was tracking the run of Fabio Kaufmann. The ball was slipped across the edge of the box and in his attempt to clear, he misjudged his kick and sent the most delightful chip over Bernhardt. Unfortunately lady luck was not on the visitors' side today and Sandhausen closed the game out for a huge three points.
Sandhausen move up a place to thirteenth, now a huge eight points from the drop zone. It should be enough to keep them safe and will want to continue to pull away from the chasing pack when they face struggling 1860 Munich on Sunday.
Aalen are left disappointed once more, as effort alone failed to secure them their share of the spoils. A home game against SpVgg Greuther Fürth awaits, though they could be four points from safety by the time that match comes around.