FC Ingolstadt 04 2 - 2 Hannover 96: Hannover fightback unlikely to stave off relegation from Bundesliga

Posted Sunday, April 24, 2016 by PA

Hannover were practically relegated to the 2. Bundesliga with three games of the season still to be played despite a 2-2 draw at 10-man Ingolstadt.

The visitors hit back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with the hosts, who are all but mathematically certain of their place in the top flight next season.

Alfredo Morales headed Ralph Hasenhuttl's men in front and after they had seen Romain Bregerie sent off in the 20th minute they doubled their advantage when Moritz Hartmann headed his 10th goal of the season.

Hiroki Sakai and Hiroshi Kiyotake struck in the second half for Hannover - but it was only enough for a point, which leaves Hannover nine points from the relegation play-off berth with three games of the season remaining.

Ingolstadt took the lead with their first chance of the game, Morales heading in Danny Da Costa's right-wing cross in the 10th minute.

Ten minutes later, the Bavarians were reduced to 10 men when Bregerie ended Felix Klaus' advance on goal with a foul - and as the last man earned a straight red card.

Only five more minutes passed when Hartmann gave Ingolstadt a cushion with a header from a Pascal Gross cross as he, like Morales, found far too much room in the Hannover six-yard box.

Sakai reduced the arrears early in the second half with a shot which arrowed into the far corner of Orjan Nyland's goal.

Kiyotake brought the visitors level late on - but with nine points and eight goals to make up on 16th-placed Werder Bremen in the final three games of the season, the Lower Saxony club's survival prospects look bleak.