2. Bundesliga: Hannover boost promotion bid with late win in Karlsruhe

Hannover 96 are well alive in the promotion race to Bundesliga after a hard-fought win in Karlsruhe.

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Hannover 96 are momentarily back to third place after a 3-1 win over Karlsruhe on Saturday afternoon. In a game of few chances, the visitors took all the points after netting twice after the 80th minute.

Mustapha Bundu put Christian Titz’s side in front in only his second start since the turn of the year. Interestingly, the Sierra Leone striker has scored both of his goals this season against Karlsruhe as he was also on target as a substitute in the 3-0 win in the Hinrunde.

Fabian Schleusener, who is set to leave the club as a free agent, leveled the score for the hosts on the stroke of half-time. The 34-year-old striker became the second Karlsruhe player to reach double digits after the captain Marvin Wanitzek.

Titz made double substitutions for the second-half, and his brave decision eventually won the game for Hannover. Kolja Oudenne netted a solo goal from a counterattacking move to restore their lead at the death.

Husseyn Chakroun, who was the other half-time substitute, then won an injury-time penalty-kick for the visitors. Hans Christian Bernat was the one who made the challenge on the Lebanon international, but he made up for it by saving Stefan Teitur Thordarson’s penalty.

However, the Danish goalkeeper had to face another penalty a few seconds later as he was adjudged to leave the goal line before the kick was taken. Substitute Daisuke Yokota, who provided the assist for the second goal, stepped up this time to seal the victory for Hannover.

Before Elversberg’s game away at fifth-placed Darmstadt tonight, Hannover climbed back to the top three. Meanwhile, Karlsruhe could drop to ninth place if Nürnberg beat relegation-threatened Magdeburg tomorrow afternoon.