Hannover through with Vorskla win

A second-string Hannover side celebrated their progress into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League with a 3-1 home win over Vorskla Poltava. With their place in the next round already assured, Hannover coach Mirko Slomka rang the changes and watched his reshuffled team ease to victory over Group B's bottom side. First-half goals from Konstantin Rausch and Didier Konan sent the Germans on their way and, while Roman Bezues pulled one back just before half-time from the penalty spot, Artur Sobiech sealed the win 12 minutes from time. Hannover were even able to afford a second-half penalty miss from Rausch as they finished group runner-up behind winners Standard Liege. With nothing riding on the game Slomka used the opportunity to recall goalkeeper Markus Miller, who had missed the previous 11 weeks due to mental exhaustion, amongst his six changes. Miller was a spectator for the opening 40 minutes as Hannover set about opening up a 2-0 lead. Konan had forced Vorskla goalkeeper Serhiy Dolhansky into an early save before Rausch opened the scoring with 23 minutes played. The 21-year-old blasted in his shot from 25 yards after Sergio Pinto provided the assist to tee him up. Hannover got their second nine minutes later when Konan found the top-right corner from 12 yards. The Germans looked to be coasting at that point, but they let their guard slip just before half-time as, after Bezues had shot narrowly wide, he was given the chance to pull one back when Mario Eggiman fouled Ahmed Januzi. Bezues calmly took his spot-kick as he placed it into the bottom-left corner. Hannover should have restored their two-goal lead ten minutes after half-time when Januzi fouled Rausch in the area. Rausch took the spot-kick himself but Dolhansky tipped it wide. It mattered little though as Hannover continued to dominate, with Pinto twice going close, before Sobiech finally put the match beyond doubt in the 78th minute. Konan set up the striker who found the net from six yards.