TSG survives penalty shootout
Underdogs force Bundesliga teams into cup extensions
Three Bundesliga teams in the DFB Cup – they have to go to extra time three times because the lower-class clubs are really annoying them. Newly promoted FC St. Pauli and 1. FSV Mainz 05 save themselves, TSG Hoffenheim experiences the ultimate showdown in the penalty shootout.
Hallescher FC – FC St. Pauli 2:3 (2:2, 1:0) aet
Despite conceding a slapstick goal, FC St. Pauli mastered their task in the first round of the DFB Cup with great effort. The Bundesliga promoted team won 3-2 (2-2, 0-1) after extra time against the stubborn regional league team Hallescher FC, but was not yet convincing against 1. FC Heidenheim a week before the start of the league.
Adam Dzwigala (90.+4) saved the favorites in extra time with his late equalizer. Lars Ritzke (110th) decided the game for St. Pauli, Johannes Eggestein (48th) made it 1-1 (48th). Cyrill Akono (11th) and Marius Hauptmann (63rd) scored for Halle. The 0-1 came in a very strange way: Nikola Vasilj tried a dribble right in front of his goal, which failed spectacularly: Akono stole the ball from the goalkeeper and pushed in to take the lead.
A few seconds before the underdog scored, St. Pauli missed a great chance to take the lead. A shot from Morgan Guilavogui (10th) hit the post, Hauke Wahl failed to put the rebound into the goal from close range – shortly afterwards Halle celebrated the 1-0.
The spectators in Halle could not see any difference in class as the game progressed – on the contrary: Halle defended cleverly, repeatedly provided relief and allowed the guests few chances. After the restart, however, the regional league team's defense was not quick to react. Eggestein effortlessly converted a cross from Guilavogui.
But Halle remained brave and made it 2-1. This time Akono shone as an assist provider and Hauptmann resolutely slotted his pass into the goal. Thanks to Dzwigala, St. Pauli saved themselves into extra time and finally forced the decision.
SV Wehen Wiesbaden – 1. FSV Mainz 05 1:3 (1:1, 1:0) nV
Defeated their neighborhood rivals, averted the embarrassment: Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05 made it into the second round of the DFB Cup with some difficulty and despite being behind for a long time. Mainz won the local derby against SV Wehen Wiesbaden 3-1 (1-1, 0-1) after extra time.
Mainz can be happy late.
(Photo: IMAGO/Eibner)
After the early goal by Tarik Gözüsirin (14th minute), Mainz were initially behind, but goals from Dominik Kohr (59th), Jonathan Burkardt (113th) and Nadiem Amiri (120th + 1) reversed the embarrassing end and the first Competitive defeat against Wehen is yet to come. The pairings for the second round will be drawn on September 1st and the games will be played on October 29th and 30th.
In front of 15,000 spectators in the sold-out Wiesbaden Arena, the Bundesliga team started the game powerfully – and promptly received a cold shower: Because an attack attempt was not decisively repelled, Gözüsirin was able to shoot in from close range to give SVWW the lead. Mainz were impressed and almost conceded 0-2 shortly before the half-time whistle, but keeper Robin Zentner brilliantly parried a header.
At the beginning of the second half, the favorite was once again the dominant team. After almost an hour, Kohr aimed into the far corner of the penalty area and equalized. The Zero Fives now pushed for the second goal, but it went into extra time, in which Mainz defender Stefan Bell's header hit the post (101'). Then Burkardt scored after a clearing error by Wiesbaden's Florian Carstens, Amiri added late.
Würzburger Kickers – TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 3:5 (2:2, 1:1, 1:1) iE
Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim avoided elimination in the first round of the DFB Cup with great effort and prevailed against regional league club Würzburger Kickers thanks to a success in the penalty shootout. The favorite won 5:3 on penalties, after 120 minutes the score was 2:2 (1:1). TSG equalized two deficits, showed better nerves from the point and avoided their first first round exit in nine years.
Enes Küc (11th) initially gave the underdogs the lead, an own goal from Kickers defender Ebrahim Farahnak (18th) ensured the score at halftime. Marius Bülter (107th) made up for the renewed deficit caused by Moritz Hannemann (100th). Julian Justvan scored decisively in the penalty shootout.
Keeper Luca Philipp started the somewhat strange initial phase with a big bang when the professional debutant let a harmless back pass slip under his foot and let it slip. Küc switched gears quickest and poked the ball into the empty goal. It took a fair amount of luck to hit the other side. After a long-range shot from newcomer Alexander Prass (18th), the ball was deflected by two Würzburg players and flew into the goal in a high arc, unstoppable for Johann Hipper.
As a result, Hoffenheim dominated the game, but rarely threatened to score. However, the TSG showed morale again after Hannemann's second deficit and saved themselves into the penalty shootout with Bülter's goal. There was luck with coach Pellegrino Matarazzo's team.
The second round, which takes place on October 29th and 30th, will be drawn on September 1st. The final in Berlin will take place on May 24th, 2025. The new Bundesliga season begins for Hoffenheim on August 24th (3:30 p.m./Sky) with a home game against newly promoted and debutant Holstein Kiel.
