96 holds Schwaben to draw

After last weeks difficult loss to Energie Cottbus, 96 responded with a strong performance against VfB Stuttgart ending in a 3-3 draw.

Due to injuries Dieter Hecking went with a 4-2-3-1 formation using Mike Hanke as the lone striker and brought in great veteran Michael Tarnat to the starting eleven. The match did not started favourably for 96 as Mario Gómez and Martin Lanig both scored before mid the half to give die Schwaben a two goal advantage. However slowly 96 woke from their slumber and searched for a way back into the match. Jan Rosenthal came in for Mario Eggimann eleven minutes before the break and VfB didn't adjust quick enough as the lead was eliminated before the break. Two minutes before the break Jacek Krzynówek was sent in by Jiří Štajner and then deep into added time after a foul was called on Sergio Pinto, Krzynówek’s free kick from twenty metres was in the netting.

The turbulent match continued after the break with Schwaben forces threatened early but Robert Enke held them back. With twenty minutes remaining, 96 started to take control with a number of efforts with Christian Schulz header cleared off the line by Elson. However with five minutes remaining Mikael Forssell gave 96 the lead as he sent in Jan Rosenthal’s cross. The joy in Niedersachsen was short lived as two minutes later Thomas Hitzlsperger drew the match level from seventeen metres.

In the end, a good moral victory coming back from two goals down.