Augsburg 1 - 2 Hannover 96 : Hannover earn first win of year

Posted Sunday, May 17, 2015 by PA

Hannover celebrated their first win of 2015 to move out of the bottom three and compromise Augsburg's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season with a 2-1 win at the Augsburg Arena.

Lars Stindl scored both goals for the Lower Saxony side, who finished up with 10 men following a red card to Hiroki Sakai, playing against nine men.

Paul Verhaegh, who had equalised for the hosts, was shown a second yellow card in the last minute with Raul Bobadilla joining him for an early bath in stoppage time.

Both will be missing when Augsburg travel to Borussia Monchengladbach next weekend, where they need just a point to secure a place in the Europa League.

Augsburg fans marched in unison to the Augsburg Arena, and once inside they showed their support for their team's attempt to qualify for Europe next season with their vociferous backing.

Instead of lifting their team, though, it seemed to put some extra pressure on them with the high expectations something they are not used to, and it was Hannover who capitalised to take the lead.

Jimmy Briand was the provider with a great pass for Stindl, playing his penultimate game for the club before his summer switch to Borussia Monchengladbach, who swept in a crucial goal for his current employers.

Their lead did not last long, though, with Augsburg gifted a route back into the game from the penalty spot when Sakai slid in and fouled Rahman Baba inside the penalty area.

Despite all of the pressure, Augsburg captain Verhaegh boldly chose to cheekily chip his spot-kick past Ron-Robert Zieler, succeeding with the trick.

Stindl clearly did not want to leave Hannover as a second-division club and he restored the Reds' lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Briand was again the provider with a low cross which Stindl somehow managed to bundle over the line as he was falling to the ground.

The first of three red cards was brandished to Sakai in the 78th minute when he saw a second yellow card.

Augsburg failed to make the most of their extra man, though, and just 10 minutes later parity in terms of the number of players on either side was restored when Verhaegh picked up a second yellow.

Frustration got the better of Bobadilla as he pushed Miiko Albornoz and earned a straight red to complete a miserable afternoon for Augsburg, who were helped only by results elsewhere.