Brace from Jiri Stajner gave away first win for Hannover

Brace from Jiri Stajner gave away first win for Hannover

A goal in each half from Jiri Stajner gave Hannover their first Bundesliga victory of the season and left Nurnberg still winless.

The popular Czech forward struck after 15 minutes and again four minutes from time to earn a deserved victory.

The hosts, who dominated possession but rarely threatened the Hannover goal, could have few complaints, and could even have lost by more had Stajner not missed a retaken penalty eight minutes into the second half.

Nurnberg began on the front foot but created few chances and it was Hannover who nearly went ahead when Constant Djakpa's blocked effort after seven minutes rebounded to Valdet Rama, who shot wide.

The goal did come after 14 minutes though.

Djakpa played a flat ball from the right into the box to Stajner, who eluded the attentions of Dominic Maroh and Javier Pinola to flick the ball into the right of goal, leaving Raphael Schafer in the Nurnberg goal with no chance.

Despite Nurnberg's territorial dominance, Hannover could have been 2-0 up by the break had first Rama and then Stajner not shot wide.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the counter-attack after the break and earned a penalty when Pinola brought down Stajner.

The striker's spot-kick had to retaken after encroachment into the penalty area and at the second attempt Schafer dived brilliantly to parry Stajner's effort.

That could have been costly as Nurnberg finally created a chance worthy of the name heading into the last 10 minutes, but Angelos Charisteas, all alone in the centre of the penalty box, could not find the target with his weak shot.

The second goal came for Hannover four minutes from the end, Stajner accepting Djakpa's pass with his back to goal before spinning his marker and firing a powerful right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area which arrowed into the top right corner.