Haaland protects BVB from embarrassment

Borussia Dortmund has reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup with a bang. The Revierclub made it into the next round of the cup with a hard-won 3-2 (2-2, 2-0) after extra time over the second division club SC Paderborn. BVB thus preserved its last chance for a national title, but the performance against the perky outsider was anything but title-ready.

Erling Haaland gave BVB the chance to advance in the empty Dortmund stadium with his goal in the 95th minute and thus averted another disappointment of the black-yellows, who were beaten in the championship this season. This was preceded by an almost five-minute video study to see whether the Norwegian had previously been sidelined.

BVB could have saved such a nerve-wracking game after early goals by Emre Can (6th minute) and Jadon Sancho (16th). But Julian Justvan (79th) and the late penalty goal by Prince Owusu (90th + 7th) brought the East Westphalia back into the game.

In contrast to the cup coup against the top team from Union Berlin (3: 2) at the end of December, the Paderborn team was not rewarded for their courage this time. “It’s three games to Berlin. That is a declared goal, ”was the clear mandate from BVB sports director Michael Zorc. But it wasn’t that simple. It all started so well for BVB. While Manuel Akanji had missed the huge chance to head the lead after the first corner (6th), Can was there seconds later. After the Ostwestfalen had acted completely confused after a corner, the ball fell at the feet of the midfielder, who shot in from a short distance to the Dortmund leadership.

The BVB-Express then initially rolled on. Only two minutes later, Haaland was free, but SC keeper Leopold Zingerle clarified in dire need. Nico Schulz put the margin over the gate. The former Hoffenheim player was one of four players that coach Edin Terzic rotated into the team. But world champion Mats Hummels was missing because of a knee injury. Captain Marco Reus sat on the bench. The Dortmund offensive game worked anyway.

After a pass from Haaland, it was Sancho who duped Zingerle and increased it to 2-0. But the guests by no means gave up. Driven by trainer Steffen Baumgart, who showed full commitment on the sidelines despite pouring rain in a T-shirt, the Paderborn team braced themselves against a defeat with courageous fore-checking. And the SCP had good chances. Marwin Hitz, who was again between the posts instead of Roman Bürki, had to parry twice against Dennis Srbeny (25th) and Jamilu Collins (31st). Can also falsified a Collins shot almost into his own goal (37th). So the underdog contributed to a most entertaining game.

That didn’t change in the second round either, when Srbeny (57th) and Chris Führich (72nd) missed further great opportunities. In this phase, Dortmund only managed the result that was punished. First Justvan met, then BVB took a penalty after Felix Passlack fouled Sebastian Schonlau, which Owusu converted. The decision came with a delay, because initially the game had continued and Haaland had used the counterattack to the alleged 3-1 winner.

The storm giant Haaland then prevented worse in extra time. However, this goal also remains controversial, the Haaland was offside just behind the center line before his solo. After that, it was a trembling game until the end because Dortmund left the pre-harvest decision with good chances.