Foals slump to cup exit in Hannover

Borussia Mönchengladbach have failed to reach the quarterfinals of the DFB-Pokal, losing 3-0 to Bundesliga 2 side Hannover 96 on Wednesday evening.

The Foals got off to a bad start the HDI-Arena, with Maximilian Beier finishing past Yann Sommer to put Hannover ahead inside four minutes. The Foals struggled to find a response and a penalty for handball converted by Sebastian Kerk made matters worse (36’). Fresh impetus from the half-time break was lost soon after the restart, when Beier broke away to add a third in the 51st minute. A comeback was too big a task for the Foals, as the dream of DFB-Pokal glory came to an end in the last 16.

TEAM NEWS

Head coach Adi Hütter made four changes to the side that started against Leverkusen on the weekend, with Matthias Ginter, Joe Scally, Alassane Plea and Marcus Thuram coming in for Tony Jantschke, Luca Netz, László Bénes and Breel Embolo. Yann Sommer was in goal, protected by a back-three of Ginter, Nico Elvedi and Marvin Friedrich. Stefan Lainer and Scally took up wing-back positions, while Manu Koné and Florian Neuhaus paired up in the centre of midfield. Lars Stindl, Plea and Thuram lined up in attack.

Borussia were without Christoph Kramer (cold), Jordan Beyer (muscular problems), Jonas Hofmann (fitness following knee injury), Mamadou Doucouré (fitness following Achilles injury) and Ramy Bensebaini (AFCON). Denis Zakaria returned from his hip problem to take a place on the bench.

FIRST-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

4’: The hosts take lead with their first chance. Elvedi’s interception lands at Weydandt’s feet and he quickly feeds Beier. Sommer can’t keep him out one against one. 1-0 to Hannover.

12’: Ginter’s cross from the right is brilliantly headed down by Thuram, giving Neuhaus the chance to shoot. Zieler reacts quickly though and is able to save with his leg.

22’: Kerk’s drilled cross is too hot for Sommer to gather, but Ginter is on hand to clear the ball ahead of Weydandt.

30’: After a one-two with Lainer, Ginter looks to curl a shot in with the outside of his boot, but it’s always heading wide.

36’: Penalty for Hannover. A shot catches Friedrich on the arm and, after a VAR review, the referee decides to award a spot-kick. Sommer goes the right way, but can only get fingertips to Kerk’s shot. 2-0 to Hannover.

42’: Neuhaus unleashes a powerful effort from distance that Zieler is able to fish out of the bottom corner.

SECOND-HALF HIGHLIGHTS

47’: Beier shoots from a tight angle and Sommer manages to tip the ball onto the post. The resulting corner sees Ondoua’s effort saved as well, before Beier’s rebound is fired over.

51’: Borussia are caught on the counter from their own corner-kick. Maina puts Beier in behind and he pokes the ball past Sommer. 3-0 to Hannover.

56’: Neuhaus picks up on a failed clearance and shuffles into some space to shoot, but Zieler makes another strong save.

63’: Weydandt’s header at the far post is brilliantly stopped by Sommer. The ball falls to Beier and his curling shot rattles back off the far post.

73’: Zakaria is in one-on-one after Stindl’s first-time lay-off, but he can’t find a way past Zieler.

90+3’: Ochs almost scores an own goal following a corner, but Zieler is able to hook the ball off the line.

MATCH FACTS

Hannover 96: Zieler – Dehm, Franke, Börner, Hult (78’ Ochs) – Kaiser, Ondoua – Beier (72’ Ennali), Kerk (64’ Ernst), Maina (64’ Stolze) – Weydandt (72’ Teuchert)

Borussia: Sommer – Ginter, Elvedi, Friedrich – Lainer (67’ Herrmann), Scally (67’ Netz) – Koné, Neuhaus – Stindl, Plea (46’ Embolo), Thuram (46’ Zakaria) / Unused subs: Sippel, Bénes, Jantschke, Noß, Bennetts

Goals: 1-0 Beier (4’), 2-0 Kerk (36’, pen.), 3-0 Beier (51’)

Attendance: 500

Yellow cards: Friedrich, Embolo

Referee: Florian Badstübner (Windsbach)

Matthias Ginter returned to the starting XI on what was his birthday
The referee awarded Hannover a penalty following a VAR review
Manu Koné worked hard in midfield, but couldn't help the Foals reach the DFB-Pokal quarterfinals
Florian Neuhaus had a huge chance to equalise early in the game, but Zieler came out on top

19.01.2022