In-form VfL Wolfsburg continued their push for a place in Europe next season with another home win.
Felix Magath’s side beat regional rivals Hannover 96 3-2 (2-1), to keep hot on the heels of the Bundesliga top five. The loss for Hannover leaves them treading water in mid-table.
Dejagah double
A near 30,000 crowd saw an entertaining game unfold, with Ashkan Dejagah putting Wolfsburg ahead on 20 minutes. Arnold Bruggink levelled for Hannover (27.), but all of two minutes later the hosts were in front again, thanks to captain Marcelinho.
Dejagah made it 3-1 in the 71st minute, while Jiri Stajner pulled one back for 96 (79.) to make it an interesting final ten minutes. But the Wolves held firm to record their seventh league win of 2008.
Attack from the off
While the rain-sodden pitch impacted somewhat on the quality of football on display, both sides showed a willingness to go forward from the off, resulting in goal chances aplenty. Hannover started the stronger, with Vinicius (10.) and Sergio Pinto (17.) posing early threats to the home goal.
It was Wolfsburg who struck first, however, Edin Dzeko nodding on a long ball for Dejagah, who rifled home a low shot from the edge of the box. Seven minutes later, the 96ers were rewarded for their efforts when Bruggink headed home a cross from Szabolcs Huszti.
Joy short-lived
120 seconds later, Hannover’s joy evaporated as Marcelinho fired the hosts back in front after taking a lay-off from Dejagah.
VfL started the second half well, and had two good chances to make it 3-1 through Dzeko and Marcelinho - both foiled by Hannover keeper Robert Enke.
Enke could do little to stop the hosts’ third when it did arrive, Dejagah popping up inside the box again and clinically dispatching the ball into the net. Stajner’s goal eight minutes later would prove nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.
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