The second week of the 2. Bundesliga season kicked off after an explosive first week of football. One of the games set out to be the most competitive was the tie between SpVgg Greuther Fürth and Hannover 96, both of which managed a win in their respective first games of the season.
Both teams are also viable contestants to gaining promotion to the top flight, with squads with quality above most of the other sides in the second division. However, you could argue that Hannover are more prepared for a top finish simply due to the fact that they were relegated from the Bundesliga last season.
The game didn’t disappoint, four goals in total led up to people’s expectations as Hannover dominated in a 3-1 victory over the Shamrocks.
Both Managers field no changes
After the 1-0 win at home to 1860 Munich last weekend, Stefan Ruthenbeck made no changes to his starting XI coming in to the game. However, Serdar Dursun, Sercan Sararer and Zlatko Tripic were brought on in the later stages of the game as goals were very clearly needed.
The same can also be said for Hannover, who made no changes after the 4-0 annihilation of 1. FC Kaiserslautern last weekend. Artur Sobiech was forced off the field in the 33th minute with an injury, causing concern, and depending on the length of time he will be out for, his industriousness at the top of the field will be sorely missed. Yet his replacement Martin Harnik was equally threatening, scoring their last goal of the game in the 85th minute.
Fossum opens scoring, Maier and Harnik secure points.
From the outset, Hannover 96 looked extremely threatening, chances being created mainly through Felix Klaus whose pace was set to be a real test to Fürth Right back Khaled Narey. The matchup on the right side was a competitive one throughout, and in the 33rd minute Klaus found space and crossed in to find Iver Fossum, who opened the game up with a confident finish past Megyeri.
It was 60 minutes until the next goal went in, being 1-0 up Hannover came out after half time looking less adept. Robert Zulj had a great chance to score however he was denied by a great reflex save from Philipp Tschauner, further chances came from Sebastian Freis and Serdar Dursun but they could only strike wide.
As the half went on, Hannover began to slowly improve, in the 74th minute Manuel Schmiedebach travelled a long ball to Niclas Füllkrug, who headed down to Sebastian Maier, penetrating the back of the net, beating Megyeri at his near post.
Leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of the Furth fans who were urging their team on to equalise.
From there Hannover dominated, and in the 85th minute Martin Harnik sealed the points for The Reds. The newcomer not thinking twice as he nailed the ball from 13 meters into the left corner, leaving Furth keeper Megyeri stunned.
Berisha provides consolation
As the game progressed, the scene was looking more and more bleak for Ruthenbeck and SpVgg. Despite having the better of the second half, by the time Maier had scored heads began to drop for the shamrocks. However, in the 90th minute Veton Berisha managed to break through from a Robert Zulj pass, placing the ball past Hannover keeper Philipp Tschauner who had a solid game throughout.
Shortly after that the final whistle was blown by referee Jochen Drees. The score ending as 3:1 in favour of the home side.
Now, Hannover remain unbeaten and are sitting at the top of the 2. Bundesliga table with six points now to their name, whereas Furth sit in the middle of the table with a win and a loss.