Hannover finish ahead of last-gasp Levante
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Article summary
Levante UD 2-2 Hannover 96
Vicente Iborra had the final say in the 94th minute but the visitors nevertheless went through as Group L winners ahead of the Spanish side.
Article top media content
Article body
Levante UD's Vicente Iborra struck in the fourth minute of added time to deny Hannover 96 victory, but the Bundesliga side nevertheless finished top of Group L ahead of the Spanish club.
Though both teams were already assured of progress to the UEFA Europa League's last 32, first place in the section was still at stake. Hannover took the honours by a point despite surrendering the two-goal advantage given them by goals from Lars Stindl and Didier Yo Konan inside 26 minutes. Ángel halved the deficit soon after half-time before Iborra secured a share of the spoils with virtually the last kick of the game.
Despite an even opening to proceedings, Hannover were sparked into life by Míchel's miss for Levante after 13 minutes. The visitors took the lead soon after when Sergio da Silva Pinto's ball from deep picked out Stindl, who stroked in at the second time of asking.
Eight minutes later Mirko Slomka's men doubled their tally. Stindl was the provider this time, playing in Ya Konan for a delightful chip over Keylor Navas. Mame Diouf's subsequent header was tipped onto the crossbar by Navas as Hannover sought to wrap up the points. However, the Liga outfit rode their luck and were back in the game shortly after the restart when Ángel finished past Ron-Robert Zieler from close range.
Hungry for an equaliser, Levante poured forward and went close through Míchel before Ángel was denied by Zieler and José Barkero wasted the rebound. Yet just as time looked to have run out on the hosts, Iborra nodded in from a corner to give Juan Ignacio Martínez's charges a dramatic draw.