Dynamo Dresden cannot win at home in the Bundesliga 2. However, the Saxons can celebrate the 2-2 draw against Hannover 96 as a perceived victory, as they played almost the entire second half short-handed after Vinko Sapina was sent off (54'). Benedikt Pichler had put the visitors ahead after eleven minutes in front of 31,733 spectators. Virgil-Eugen Ghitä (35') equalized with an own goal, which Nils Fröling (41') even turned into a lead with his first Dynamo goal. However, Noel Aseko Nkili (43) equalized immediately before the break, which was also the final result.
"The red card completely turned the game around. It was completely justified. Then we defended really well. We got a point against a really good team," said Dynamo coach Thomas Stamm.
Dynamo were without Jonas Oehmichen, Jan-Hendrik Marx and Kofi Amoako due to illness, with Amoako's absence weighing particularly heavily. After all, he had recently emerged as one of Dynamo's best players as a midfield scrum-half. Stamm ordered Luca Herrmann to take his place in the central full-back position alongside Sapina.
Due to the early goal conceded after a VAR decision, Dynamo were forced to play differently. That was difficult for a long time because the visitors cleverly closed down the spaces and increasingly dominated the game themselves with many well-constructed attacks. This made the equalizer all the more surprising. Ghitä completely lost his bearings from a Sapina cross from half field and headed into his own goal. The hosts took advantage of the ensuing confusion among the 96ers to take the lead. Fröling dusted off the ball in the five-meter area to score his first Dynamo goal.
Red card justified
However, as in the past, the Saxons did not manage to go into the dressing room with a sense of achievement. The visitors played out a counterattack flawlessly and used their numerical superiority and speed to equalize, which was not undeserved. "We just have to be cleverer, knock the ball out and not try to play nicely," said Dynamo defender Faber.
Sapina's sending off - he stepped out backwards and hit Enzo Leopold on the head - changed everything once again. "I only saw on the TV replay that it really was the open sole. In that respect, red was justified," said Sapina. From then on, Hannover dictated the game, pinned Dresden back in their own penalty area and created several chances. For the hosts, it became a battle of attrition in midsummer temperatures. Stamm strengthened the defense with several changes. With their combined efforts, Dynamo were able to prevent the impending goal. And made one or two pinpricks, which did not lead to victory.
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