Salomon Kalou has scored shortly before half time to give Hertha Berlin a 1-0 lead over Hannover in the Bundesliga.
The visitors looked the more likely early on as Vladimir Darida collected a long ball forward only to see his shot blocked, while Genki Haraguchi struck a low drive on the edge of the area, but it was deflected clear.
Darida continued to look lively for Hertha, benefiting from a through-ball from Haraguchi before seeing his finish saved, while the home side struggled to create anything down the other end.
The visitors finally opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark when Haraguchi picked out Kalou with the through-ball, leaving the striker to smash the ball in from close range.
Marvin Plattenhardt came close to adding a second from a free kick shortly before the interval, but powered it over the crossbar, while Artur Sobiech almost got Hannover back on level terms down the other end, providing a cross for Hiroshi Kiyotake, but Rune Jarstein pulled off the save.
Sian Cowper
