Hannover 1-1 Mainz

Hannover coach Dieter Hecking saw the pressure on him ease as his team picked up their first point of the season against Mainz.

The visitors had barely had a sight on goal all game but took the lead three minutes into the second half through half-time substitute Aristide Bance.

However, Jiri Stajner levelled matters from the spot just eight minutes later to earn a deserved point for Hannover.

Hecking will still be feeling the heat following his side's DFB-Pokal exit at the hands of fourth-division Trier a fortnight ago, and last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Hertha Berlin, but this was a small step in the right direction.

The hosts started brightly and could have taken the lead in the fifth minute but Mainz goalkeeper Heinz Muller pulled off a fingertip save to deny Didier Ya Konan.

They had another decent opportunity minutes later as Constant Djakpa saw his effort fly narrowly past the left upright.

Ya Konan was to be denied again by Muller in the 23rd minute and the rebound fell to Mikael Forssell but his shot was cleared off the line.

Mainz's only chance in the first half came two minutes from the break as Elkin Soto drifted in a free-kick but Milorad Pekovic headed the ball wide from close range.

The visitors took the lead shortly after the restart when Bance struck the ball sweetly into the left corner from just outside the area.

However, they shot themselves in the foot in the 56th minute when Muller fouled Ya Konan and Stajner struck his penalty into the bottom right corner.

Mainz came close to retaking the lead 10 minutes later but Hannover goalkeeper Robert Enke did well to keep out Daniel Gunkel's 25-yard free-kick.

At the other end Muller pulled off a stunning save to once again deny Ya Konan.

Hannover could have snatched it late on but Valdet Rama headed over six minutes from time.