On Sunday afternoon, Hannover 96 won 3-0 at FC St. Pauli. While coach Christoph Dabrowski was full of praise after the game, goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was upset about a penalty rule.
The numbers spoke a pretty clear language. FC St. Pauli had a clear preponderance in terms of possession (59 per cent), but otherwise all parameters pointed to Hannover 96’s superiority. In the 90 minutes at the Millerntor, the Lower Saxons were not only more effective in the direct duels (54 per cent of duels won) – compared to the Hamburgers, they also had more goals (19:11), covered three kilometres more and earned almost twice as many corners (13:7).
It was therefore clear that Christoph Dabrowski had hardly anything to criticise afterwards. “The team put in an outstanding performance on the pitch today,” enthused Hannover’s coach at the “Sky” microphone following the 3-0 win away from home, and then went on to cite the points of discipline, strength in tackling and unity in particular.
Dabrowski is delighted with the development of the game
Dabrowski was also pleased with his team’s play. “There is a development to be seen,” said Dabrowski and was therefore just as pleased with the performance as Ron-Robert Zieler. Hannover’s keeper spoke of a “really good away game” and praised his team-mates for their “tremendous passion”.
Then Zieler spoke about Guido Burgstaller’s penalty. As the game had long since been decided ten minutes before the end with the score at 3-0 in favour of Hannover, the penalty kick became a marginal note – but Zieler nevertheless didn’t have a good word to say about the goalkeepers. “I’m at a loss for words,” said the 33-year-old, who then described it as “totally incomprehensible” that the penalty had been retaken after his save against Burgstaller.
Kyereh hits the crossbar – but that’s not Zieler’s concern
Because Zieler had moved a little too early and appeared in front of the goal line, VAR intervened before referee Bastian Dankert allowed the penalty to be retaken. This time Daniel-Kofi Kyereh hit the crossbar, but that was not Zieler’s concern. “We goalkeepers have a hard enough time as it is and then you stop a ball like that,” said Hannover’s goalkeeper, before concluding: “Whoever invented that has no idea about football.
