Mario Götze led Eintracht Frankfurt into the second round of the DFB Cup with a strong debut performance. Also thanks to the extremely present world champion of 2016, the Europa League winner won his first round game at the second division promoted 1. FC Magdeburg safely 4-0 (2-0). The Hessians seem prepared for the Bundesliga opener on Friday (8.30 p.m./Sat.1 and Dazn) against record champions Bayern Munich.
In Götze’s first competitive game, which lasted 79 minutes before he was substituted, Daichi Kamada (4th/59th), Jesper Lindström (32nd) and substitute ex-Leverkusener Lucas Alario (90th) shot Eintracht on. National goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (7th) saved the favorites from equalizing in the meantime by parrying a penalty kick from Magdeburg’s Andreas Müller.
“Winning 4-0 in this cauldron is something to be proud of,” said Eintracht coach Oliver Glasner on the ARD microphone. But the Austrian wasn’t completely satisfied: “We were too susceptible to counterattacks in some situations. It’s details that Bayern Munich or Real Madrid exploit coldly.” Before the game, SGE sports director Markus Krösche demanded to be “immediately wide awake”, which the Eintracht professionals took literally at the beginning. Götze, who came from Eindhoven and is in the front of the triangle with Rafael Borré and Lindström, sent Filip Kostić down the left flank with a nice one-two. In the classic Frankfurt style, the Serb laid flat in the backcourt, from where Kamada shot in without any problems.
In an entertaining early phase, both teams ran with a lot of energy – and Magdeburg could have struck back immediately when Tuta (6th) fouled FCM professional Leonardo Scienza in the penalty area. Müller lost his nerve when the penalty was due and then Leon Bell Bell put the extra shot on the crossbar. A second setback in a very short time, but it didn’t upset the hosts immediately.
Goal scorer and assist provider celebrate together: Filip Kostić (left) put the Frankfurt 1-0 up through Daichi Kamada.
(Photo: Jan Huebner/Imago)
Whipped on by their loud fans, they continued to be aggressive and kept the Frankfurt defense busy – but without creating any great chances. The guests did better because the agile Götze came up trumps as a ball distributor. After his through pass, Ansgar Knauff was first denied by Magdeburg goalkeeper Dominik Reimann, Lindström picked up the rebound and increased for the efficient Frankfurt team.
After the break, Magdeburg increased the pressure again, but didn’t use their chances well enough. While both fan camps subsequently caused ugly scenes – Pyro was ignited and thrown and there were arguments in the stands – the Eintracht professionals followed suit. Kamada cheered again. After winning the ball deep in the Magdeburg half, Borré found the Japanese, who finished with the inside. Substitute Alario made it 4-0 just before the final whistle.
Union continues to tremble against Chemnitz
Union Berlin is in the second round of the cup after a tour de force. The Europe League participant prevailed in the East duel at the regional league Chemnitzer FC after extra time with 2: 1 (1: 1, 0: 0). City rivals Hertha BSC, who had to bury their dream of a final in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday, are waiting for the Bundesliga opener on Saturday.
“The way we played today, we can’t play in the Bundesliga. I assume that we will then present ourselves differently,” said an angry Union manager Oliver Ruhnert on Sky: “It was insufficient what we did with the ball today have done. But: We made progress. Others are out.”
Jordan Siebatcheu (64′), brought in to succeed Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi, and substitute Kevin Behrens (114′) scored for last year’s semi-finalist from Köpenick, who by no means shone. Tobias Müller (62nd) put Chemnitz in the lead.
“It’s a team that’s always looking for playful solutions. We need a really good performance,” said Union coach Urs Fischer, who had previously suffered from severe back pain, on the Sky microphone before kick-off.
The decisive moment: Kevin Behrens (middle, in red and white) scored the 2-1 for Union Berlin in extra time.
(Photo: Matthias Rietschel/Reuters)
Fischer’s team took control of the game early on from the well-adjusted outsider. Captain Christopher Trimmel fired into the side netting from a good position (14′), central defender Robin Knoche tested Chemnitz keeper Jakub Jakubov after a corner two minutes later. But that was it for the time being from the favorites. At Union with the newcomers Janik Haberer and Siebatcheu, there was an increasing lack of precision in the last third.
And the CFC, coached by ex-pro Christian Tiffert (225 Bundesliga games), became more and more courageous as the game progressed. The majority of the 13,465 fans in the stadium on Gellertstrasse applauded at half-time because the Unioners barely got in front of the Chemnitz goal. In the 51st minute, the supporters of the sky blue even had the goal scream on their lips. Max Roscher ran freely towards the Berlin box from a half-right position, Frederik Rönnow parried the low shot in the short corner with difficulty.
The sky blues dreamed of the sensation: Tobias Müller put Chemnitz in the lead after a good hour.
(Photo: Koehler/Imago)
A little later the time had come: A perfectly kicked free kick from Kilian Pagliuca landed on Müller’s forehead, who didn’t give Rönnow a chance. The party lasted less than two minutes, however, the cross from Andreas Voglsammer, who had just come on as a substitute, was converted by US international Siebatcheu with an artistic shot from the turn.
After that, Union, led by the strong Trimmel, pushed in vain for the decision after 90 minutes. At least Union avoided the penalty shoot-out because Trimmel served a corner for Behrens.
Difficult in Cottbus: Promoted Bremen continue without shine
Successful gallop, test of patience mastered: Bundesliga club Werder Bremen has solved its first mandatory task after the resurgence lackluster. In the cup, coach Ole Werner’s team won 2-1 (1-0) against the regional league team Energie Cottbus and thus avoided a first-round exit like last year.
Romano Schmid (43′) and Mitchell Weiser (73′) scored in the sold-out stadium for the favorites to win, while substitute Tim Heike (79′) scored the goal. In the league, the Werder relegation project begins on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky) with the north duel at VfL Wolfsburg.
Scored for Cottbus: Tim Heike, here against Werder captain Marco Friedl (right).
(Photo: Annegret Hilse/Reuters)
“The mood will get heated. I think it’s a very important point that you’re there from the first minute,” Clemens Fritz, Bremen’s head of professional football and scouting, demanded before the game. Even before kick-off, the 20,078 spectators, including a noisy Werder fan block, turned the stadium into a cauldron.
The guests followed Fritz’s words with action and immediately seized control of the game, while the outsider started aggressively early on. It didn’t take long for the first big chance: Werder striker Marvin Ducksch, set in scene by Weiser, failed with a low direct shot from eleven meters at the left post (10th).
Bremen continued to set the tone and constricted energy in their own half. Ducksch again aimed just over the goal after a nice combination (22nd). Five minutes later it was almost time when Cottbus keeper Alexander Sebald played the ball into Ducksch’s feet. But strike partner Niclas Füllkrug was too surprised by the unexpected opportunity. The regional league team then came up with relief attacks more often, but did not develop any danger. Werder was rewarded for the great effort. Schmid turned a dry pass from Füllkrug into the right corner.
Scored the first goal of the game here: Romano Schmid with the 1:0 for Werder Bremen.
(Photo: Annegret Hilse/Reuters)
After the change of sides, Cottbus also made offensive claims: Axel Borgmann just missed the target from 20 meters. In return, Ducksch carelessly missed the chance to calm Werder’s nerves: Instead of the goal, he only hit the left post from five meters. The game became rougher, Bremen only put a few pinpricks forward. Then, after a deflected Ducksch shot, Weiser made the supposed preliminary decision. Heike raised tension again, in the final phase Cottbus pressed for the equaliser.
Darmstadt wins sovereign against Ingolstadt
SV Darmstadt 98, on the other hand, easily made it into the second round of the cup. The second division team won their first round game on Monday at the weak third division club FC Ingolstadt 3-0 (2-0). In front of 5298 spectators, Phillip Tietz (15th) and Tobias Kempe gave the guests the lead with a penalty kick (42nd) on the birthday of their coach Torsten Lieberknecht. Magnus Warming (84th) made the final score.
The 2-0 in a one-sided encounter: Tobias Kempe scores from the penalty spot for Darmstadt.
(Photo: Eduard Martin/Imago)
Darmstadt dominated from the start and had great chances every minute. But the guests initially failed either because of the aluminum or because of the strong FCI keeper Markus Pronath. Ingolstadt’s goalkeeper was only unable to parry Tietz’s shot in the early stages. As a result, the Hessians continued to exploit opportunities. Finally, Kempe made the preliminary decision from the point in an extremely one-sided game.
Even after the break, the exploitation of chances remained Darmstadt’s major shortcoming. The Ingolstadt team now tried more from a distance, but the balls usually got stuck on the first defender. It took 69 minutes until the first dangerous Schanzer penalty action. In the final phase, the FCI got a little stronger, but Darmstadt’s warming ended with a well-placed low shot.
