League Play-Off

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Spectators: 34 (Terracing: 26, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) stahl-rot's Tobi Claus started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Michael Pöttgen made a fantastic save in the 9th minute, when Jork Heidemann sent off a good shot on target. Michael Pöttgen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Tobi Claus, who was totally free with the ball in the 11th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Damien Layher in the 12th minute of play forced stahl-rot's goalkeeper Lutz Stern to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 15 minutes, Noel Kaiser mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the stahl-rot and the Hannover 96 players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 15 played minutes stahl-rot got a freekick which was hit by Noel Kaiser. Beat Maus scored 0-1 in the 16th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Lutz Stern, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. After 19 played minutes stahl-rot got a freekick which was hit by Diego Ernemann. Tobi Claus sent away a hard shot on goal in the 25th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Raphael Rackstein kicked well hit freekick during the 26th minute of the match. In the 29th minute Tobi Claus shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Michael Pöttgen saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Hannover 96's zone, Jork Heidemann stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Michael Pöttgen came out of the goal and Jork Heidemann tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The supporters of stahl-rot booed when Hannover 96 was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 31 match minutes in a wonderful position. Florian Hochhaus didn't get a good kick on the ball. With an all-out effort, stahl-rot's Michael Pöttgen threw himself towards the right post 33 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Tobi Claus, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. Michael Pöttgen made an important save on a dangerous shot by Jork Heidemann in the 34th minute. Beat Maus received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 36th minute. Lutz Stern tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Michael Pöttgen made a fantastic save in the 38th minute, when Jork Heidemann sent off a good shot on target. After 39 minutes, Florian Hochhaus mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Hannover 96 and the stahl-rot players grew even worse after the yellow card. After 39 played minutes Hannover 96 got a freekick which was hit by Florian Hochhaus. Michael Pöttgen took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Tobi Claus, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The corner led stahl-rot's Benno Quednau to fire away a dangerous shot which Michael Pöttgen despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. The audience was convinced that Beat Maus's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Lutz Stern was relentless in the 48th minute of the game.

Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Damien Layher in the 60th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Lutz Stern prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 61 minutes into the match, Hannover 96's goal looked a bit too open when Jork Heidemann came free, but Michael Pöttgen reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Tobi Claus struck a weak shot in the 63rd minute. Michael Pöttgen didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for stahl-rot. Beat Maus could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 67th minute of the match, but Lutz Stern made a huge save. In the 69th minute, Florian Hochhaus hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 72 minutes had been played when some careless play by Hannover 96's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Benno Quednau was slow to take the kick. During this time stahl-rot's players had a chance to rest. After taking down the ball on stahl-rot's corner Benno Quednau fired away a hard shot, but the defenders efficiently covered the most dangerous angles and Michael Pöttgen quite easily take care of the ball. Michael Pöttgen made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Tobi Claus in the 74th minute of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Jorck Moll during the 75th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After 75 played minutes Hannover 96 got a freekick which was hit by Jorck Moll. Michael Pöttgen showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jork Heidemann, who was totally free with the ball in the 81st minute. Jork Heidemann fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 82nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Michael Pöttgen having to interfere. When stahl-rot's Tobi Claus in the 84th minute got a chance for a shot 84th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Hannover 96's goalie prevented a goal. Beat Maus sent away a hard shot on goal in the 88th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Jork Heidemann recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 91st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Michael Pöttgen didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Tobi Claus went, in the 93rd minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.