Hanover Climbing out of the Cellar?

Hanover won the game 2-1, with all three goals scored in the second half. Of all the players, it was striker Thomas Brdaric, condemned to the bench by former coach Neururer, who was to score both goals for his team and make Hecking's debut as Hanover coach a triumph.Hanover won the game 2-1, with all three goals scored in second half.

"Of course we're very happy about the victory. Because of our situation, you couldn't assume that we would beat Wolfsburg," Hecking told German sports news agency SID. The coach went on with caution: "It's all for nothing if the team doesn't keep listening and work. There are still things to improve."

Poor game, but at last a victory

The Lower Saxony derby did not blossom with colorful soccer, something not all too surprising when two teams meet who in their combined six games before had not been able to win and had scored a total of three goals.

The first half especially was marked by poor passes and a generally sloppy game. The only real chance in first half came in the 39th minute when Brdaric missed the ball after good solo work by Jiri Stajner.

Hanover came out stronger in second half, perhaps helped by the fans' banner asking the new coach to bring 96 out of the cellar. After only six minutes Brdaric scored with a beautiful shot, but the guests were not allowed to celebrate for long. Krzynowek scored the equalizer for the home team a minute later and gave most of the 26,000 fans at the Volkswagen Arena reason to cheer.

But it was to be Hanover's day after all, as in the 61st minute Brdaric scored his second of the day. It would prove to be the winner.

"Even after the equalizer the team didn't fall apart, but instead kept believing in themselves," a content Hecking told SID. Wolfsburg's coach Klaus Augenthaler had less encouraging words to share concerning his side: "We're heading towards hard times if the players don't realize soon that they have to perform as a team," he told DPA.