Hannover 96 maintained its perfect start to the 2. Bundesliga season with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Holstein Kiel on Saturday. Despite falling behind to a 21st-minute goal from Kiel’s Phil Harres, Hannover demonstrated resilience and secured all three points, moving them clear at the top of the table with four wins from four matches. Elversberg and Bielefeld currently occupy second and third place respectively, while Kiel drops to 13th.
Kiel established an early lead through Harres, expertly converting a precise cross. The hosts then implemented a compact defensive strategy, frustrating Hannover’s attempts to build momentum for much of the first half. However, Hannover increased the pressure towards the end of the first half, with Sebastian Neubauer hitting the crossbar.
The second half saw a marked improvement from Hannover. Virgil Ghița headed home an equalizer in the 62nd minute from a corner and just seven minutes later, substitute Benjamin Källman put Hannover ahead with another headed goal, this time following a free-kick. Despite late offensive substitutions from Kiel, the home side failed to create any clear-cut chances to salvage a point.
Elsewhere in the 2. Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon, VfL Bochum suffered a 2-1 defeat against Preußen Münster and Eintracht Braunschweig drew 1-1 with Arminia Bielefeld.
