Goals from Hiroshi Kiyotake and Salif Sané for Hannover helped seal victory for the away side. Hamburg went 1-0 up thanks to a goal from Michael Gregoritsch but his goal was cancelled out and they were eventually beaten.
Hamburg take advantage of first half chances
Hamburg dominated the opening proceedings and grabbed an early lead in the 6th minute. Nicolai Müller spread a lovely pass across the box into the feet of Michael Gregoritsch, who slotted into an empty net. Hamburg continued their impressive start to the game and Dennis Diekmeier went close for the home side on this occasion.
A swift break down the right flank was finished off with Diekmeier unleashing a powerful shot from outside the area but it was expertly tipped over by Ron-Robert Zieler. Hamburg could have made it 2-0 in the 27th minute, as Marcelo Díaz clipped the post from a free-kick. The Chilean dipped a wonderful effort over the wall only for it to hit the woodwork, the ball then fell to the feet of Nicolai Müller but he couldn't tuck home the rebound.
René Adler was then called into action for the first time as Hannover could have equalised through Artur Sobiech. He leapt in the box to meet Hiroshi Kiyotake's corner but Sobiech's header went straight down the middle of the goal but Adler was on hand to pull off a cracking save.
Müller could have grabbed Hamburg's second of the game as the home side carried on creating chances. Müller created some room for himself in the box and delivered a low shot but Zieler again kept Hannover in the game with an excellent save.
Hannover steal victory in second half
Sven Schipplock was made to rue a chance to put to put Hamburg 2-0 up. The German forward created the chance himself as he turned and created space only to fire straight over the bar. What a chance it was as well, as Hannover went and won themselves a dubious penalty straight after.
Uffe Bech ran into the area and left a foot dangling only for Emir Spahić to tackle him and commit a foul. When looking at it a second time, it seems as if it was a dive from the Dane but the penalty was given anyway. From the resulting spot-kick, Kiyotake delightfully found the bottom corner.
Just eight minutes later, Hannover unexpectedly took the lead through Salif Sané. Japanese international, Kiyotake, delievered in a wonderful lofted ball to Sané, who rose to head the ball off the woodwork and into the goal.
Hamburg started to search for an equaliser and came close through Lasogga, who was fed through and about to shoot from close range. Christian Schulz was on hand to pull off a well executed challenge and maitain Hannover's narrow lead.
The last chance of the game came to Spahić for Hamburg. The ball fell to him on the edge of the box, he cut onto his left foot but the resutling effort went past the post.