Second leg of relegation match - Hannover 96 II progresses after a 5-4 penalty shootout.
In a thrilling relegation match, Hannover 96 II managed to secure promotion to the 3rd Football League with a thrilling 5-4 victory in a penalty shootout. Eric Uhlmann's goal proved to be the game-winner. With excitement and extra time, the hosts were leading 3-2. The Bavarians had won the first leg as champions of the Regionalliga 1-0.
"Unbelievable, it was a roller coaster!" said Stendel to MagentaSport. This is the first time since the creation of the single-league third division that a club's youth team is playing in the third division, while its main team is in League Two.
During the 120 minutes, there were three penalty goals. Brooklyn Ezeh (22nd minute), Eric Uhlmann via penalty (85th minute), and Hayate Matsuda (105th minute) scored for the Lower Saxons who were pronounced champions of the Regionalliga Nord at the end of the season. The guest team's Saliou Sané (75th minute via penalty) equalized in-between, and Ivan Franjic (112th minute) also successfully converted a penalty kick, forcing the shootout.
The Lower Saxons' squad had some familiar players who had also represented their second division team the previous season. Names on this list included center-back Julian Börner, full-back Ezeh, and midfielder Kolja Oudenne.
Read also:
The victory in the penalty shootout propelled Hannover 96 II to compete in the 3rd Football League, a feat last achieved by a club's youth team when their first team was in League Two. Despite Würzburg Kickers' victory in the first leg of the relegation match, they failed to secure promotion, ending their campaign as champions of the Regionalliga 1-0.
After an intense 120 minutes, the match saw three penalty goals, with Hamburg 96 II's Eric Uhlmann and Hayate Matsuda converting their shots, while Saliou Sané and Ivan Franjic scored for Hanover 96. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Ezeh from Lower Saxony also scored from the spot in the 22nd minute, and Franjic forced the shootout with his penalty kick in the additional time.
In the wake of a thrilling relegation match, Hannover 96 II head coach Daniel Stendel expressed his excitement and satisfaction with the team's hard-fought victory. His elation was echoed by several familiar faces among Hannover 96 II's players, such as center-back Julian Börner, full-back Ezeh, and midfielder Kolja Oudenne, who had also represented Hannover 96's second division team during the previous season.
As a footnote, the exciting developments in German soccer continued, with Rheinmetall becoming the backer of BVB, sparking buzz amidst the football community in Germany and beyond.
Moreover, the powerful Bavarian side, Hanover 96, will look forward to facing tougher opponents in the 2nd Bundesliga next season, as they seek to bounce back and make amends for their relegation struggle. Meanwhile, Hannover 96 II will carry the momentum of their successful promotion campaign to their new home in the 3rd Football League.
