Cologne’s Simon Zoller (left) and Hanover’s Miiko Albornoz vie for the ball during the Bundesliga match in Cologne, western Germany, yesterday. (AFP)
AFP/Berlin
Hanover and Stuttgart climbed out of the Bundesliga relegation zone yesterday thanks to controversial goals. Hanover’s revival continued as midfielder Leon Andreasen’s winner sealed a 1-0 victory at Cologne, although replays showed there was a clear handball. After Japan midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake fired in a cross, Andreasen steered the ball home at the far post on 38 minutes with the help of his upper arm, despite furious protests from the Cologne defence. “I offered to lend my glasses to the linesman, but he didn’t see it either,” fumed Cologne coach Peter Stoeger after referee Bastian Dankert missed the handball.
Hanover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler pulled off a great save to deny Cologne’s French striker Anthony Modeste in the dying stages to rescue the win which left his team 14th in the table.
Hanover are now unbeaten in their last three games, which followed five straight defeats, while Cologne drop to sixth in the table.
Stuttgart shot up from 18th to 15th thanks to Daniel Didavi’s second-half winner which sealed their 1-0 victory at home to Ingolstadt, but replays showed he was in an offside position. Stuttgart were without Serey Die for the last ten minutes after the Ivory Coast defensive midfielder was shown a second yellow card. Ingolstadt’s Australia striker Mathew Leckie had his early penalty attempt saved by the feet of Stuttgart goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton. On Saturday, Bayern Munich became the first team to win their opening nine Bundesliga games as Thomas Mueller’s first-half strike gave Pep Guardiola’s side a 1-0 win at Werder Bremen.
Mueller stole in front of Alejandro Galvez to control a Thiago Alcantara cross at the near post for his ninth of the season at the Weserstadion as Bayern made more Bundesliga history.
Mueller’s solitary strike condemned Bremen to a club record-equalling fifth consecutive league defeat. Bayern’s 999th Bundesliga win sets them up for their trip to face Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
It left the Bavarians seven points clear at the top of the table from nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund, who won 2-0 at Mainz on Friday.
Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel returned to face his former club in Mainz and saw Marco Reus put the visitors in front in the first half before Henrikh Mkhitaryan added a second.
Germany striker Max Kruse scored his first career hat-trick as Wolfsburg climbed up to fourth with a dramatic 4-2 win at home to Hoffenheim at the Volkswagen Arena.
