2. Bundesliga: Hertha BSC beats Hannover 96 and stops the crisis

Hanover. Hertha BSC fought hard to break out of crisis mode and halted Hannover 96's winning streak. The Berlin team celebrated their first win of the season in the 2. Bundesliga with a 3-0 (0-0) victory against the league leaders from Lower Saxony, jumping out of the relegation zone.

Marten Winkler (51st minute) scored Hertha's first competitive goal in 442 minutes, Dawid Kownacki (69th minute) scored his first goal for Berlin, and Luca Schuler (90th minute +2) scored in front of 49,000 spectators in the sold-out arena. Hannover, which only dominated the first half, failed to pick up a point for the first time after four wins, but remains top of the table.

The match was overshadowed by an emergency medical call-out in the Berlin fan block, which is why both fan groups refrained from cheering for a long time in the second half.

96 coach Christian Titz fielded his recently victorious starting eleven. At Hertha, who had previously been chronically unsettled, coach Stefan Leitl not only made three changes upon returning to his former stomping ground, but also changed the formation.

Kennet Eichhorn, who at 16 years and 48 days is now the youngest starting eleven player in the history of the second division, was also allowed to play in front of the new defensive back four.

The teenager stood solidly and, with a bit more courage, could have crowned a counterattack in the second half. However, he initially had to watch as Hannover created chances too easily. Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst made early saves from Jannik Rochelt (4th minute) and Benedikt Pichler (10th minute).

With Ernst already beaten, Winkler (39') cleared the ball off the line with a header. Berlin had only one chance in the first half: Fabian Reese (21') once again tried an unlucky shot from distance.

Hannover continued its carefree approach to big chances. Ernst was on hand again to deny Mustapha Bundu (50'). In return, Winkler took advantage of Berlin's first dangerous penalty area opportunity to take a flattering lead. When Kownacki added another, Hannover had no answer. Schuler sealed the final score with a counterattack goal in stoppage time.

RND/dpa