Werder Bremen scored twice in the first and once in the second half to eliminate second division club Hannover following a 3-0 win in the second round of the German Cup on Wednesday.

Both teams staged a cautious start into the game and disrupted offensive actions already in the midfield. Hence, goalscoring opportunities were a rare occurrence in the opening stages.

Things changed in the 27th minute, though, as Theodor Gebre Selassie pulled a rebound over the target from very close range.

The Czech international cut a better figure in front of the goal three minutes later after he drilled Ludwig Augustinsson's cross into the top left corner to break the deadlock from seven meters.

As if that weren't enough, Bremen doubled its advantage moments later after Niklas Moisander's good build-up work allowed Joshua Sargent to beat onrushing Hannover goalkeeper Michael Ratajczak from inside the box.

Hannover struggled to implement its style of play in the first 45 minutes while Bremen should have extended its lead, but a Ratajczak save denied Maximilian Eggestein in the 39th minute.

The "Green-Whites" caught a bright start into the second half as Tahith Chong tested Ratajczak from the right with 48 minutes into the clash.

Bremen nearly invited Hannover to halve its deficit as Bremen's Moisander almost headed into the wrong goal after rattling the side netting in the 51st minute.

One minute later, Hannover also got a shot on target by its own efforts as Timo Hubers headed a promising corner over the goal.

However, the visitors destroyed all hopes of a comeback at the hour mark after Jean-Manuel Mbom poked home Chong's square pass into the box to seal the deal.

Hannover's resistance was broken while Werder Bremen wind down the clock to clinch its spot for the round of the last 16.

Elsewhere, Stuttgart also advanced into the next round after edging Freiburg on the sole goal from Sasa Kalajdzic.

Mainz wasted a two-goal lead and got knocked out on penalties 3-0 (2-2) by second division outfit Bochum while Jahn Regensburg edged Wehen Wiesbaden 4-2 (0-0) on penalties as well.

Bayer Leverkusen clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on January 12, whereas Holstein Kiel encounter defending champions Bayern Munich one day later to conclude German Cup's second round.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

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