Hannover finish with a flourish
Hanover - Hannover 96 celebrated a topsy-turvy 3-2 win over SC Freiburg in their final game of the 2013/14 season at the HDI-Arena on Saturday.
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A Szabolcs Huszti free kick opened the scoring to blow the lid off an otherwise low-key first half in which neither side managed to find an ounce of rhythm in midfield. Freiburg were back in it within five minutes of the restart, though, with Jonathan Schmid rifling home unmarked from Vladimir Darida's pin-point cross.
Hannover head coach Tayfun Korkut threw on Artjoms Rudnevs as the Reds attempted to reassert their authority on the contest, and the move paid dividends six minutes later when the predatory substitute sent the ball through the legs of Immanuel Höhn, before stroking into the corner.
The game now there for the taking, Freiburg hauled themselves back on level terms with 12 minutes to play. Darida was again the provider as Philipp Zulechner beat Lars Stindl to the punch to set up a grandstand finale. It was the hosts, however, who had the last laugh, with another substitute - this time Edgar Prib - getting the better of debutant goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow one-on-one.
The win sees Hannover finish the season in tenth on 42 points, with Freiburg non-movers in 14th, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
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