Best yet to come for Andreasen
Despite bagging a brace in Hannover 96's 5-3 UEFA Europa League play-off first-leg victory over Slask Wroclaw on Thursday, midfielder Leon Andreasen says his best form is yet to come.
"Slomka: It's all worth it now"
Andreasen joined Hannover from Premier League side Fulham FC in 2009 but has featured in just 18 Bundesliga fixtures since due to various injuries.
"I've already said plenty of times that it's only been two or three games," the Danish international explained after the match. I'm still not 100 percent; I've still got a little work to do. Of course I'm delighted with how I've started following my injury spells, but most of all, I'm happy that we won the match."
Andreasen had already netted the opener against Irish side St. Patrick's Athletic in the previous qualification round and continued his goalscoring form against Wroclaw by converting Steve Cherundolo's cross for Hannover's first. "Leon converted it wonderfully. He's struggled a lot over the last two years, but it's all worth it now," said 96 boss Mirko Slomka.
Andreasen decisive
Andreasen's second goal of the night proved decisive. With the match looking as though it was about to turn after Wroclaw had pegged back a 3-1 deficit, the former Werder Bremen midfielder struck a free-kick from almost 30 yards. Manuel Schmiedebach later sealed Hannover's win with his first ever professional goal.
Nonetheless, Andreasen had words of warning for the team over the manner in which they almost threw away a solid lead: "3-1 looked like a commanding lead at half time - we can't afford to ship two goals within 15 minutes again. They were individual mistakes that shouldn't be happening."
Felix Seaman-Höschele
http://www.bundesliga.com/en/el/news/2012/0000220167.php
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