DFB Cup
Eintracht Frankfurt took the hurdle Darmstadt in the DFB Cup round of 16 with some difficulty. Coach Oliver Glasner’s team beat the leaders of the second German division 4-2 (2-2) on Tuesday evening. Mathias Honsak from Vienna scored twice for Darmstadt (29th, 31st) to make it 2-1. Last year’s finalist Freiburg defeated Sandhausen 2-0 (0-0) after late goals.
Honsak, who was injured for a long time this season, had already scored two goals in the league at the weekend. In addition to the left winger, Emir Karic was another Austrian in the guests’ starting XI. Frankfurt went early in the Hessen derby in front of almost 50,000 fans through France team striker Randal Kolo Muani (6th) and deserved the lead. However, the Darmstadt team successfully launched counterattacks, which Honsak used coldly. It was still 2-2 at the break, as Rafael Borre (44th) was able to equalize for Frankfurt.
Eintracht scored the third goal in the second half through Daichi Kamada (62nd). Darmstadt still had chances and also hit the post before Kolo Muani (90th) made the late decision again on the counterattack. It was the first competitive defeat since July 2022 for the “Lilien”, who are on course for promotion.
“Frankfurt has an enormous quality. But we had nothing to lose. In the first half we held up well, in the second we didn’t get into the duels like that,” analyzed Honsak. When asked about his performance, the 26-year-old said: “I’m glad things are going so well. I was out for a long time, it was a long time of suffering. But that’s already forgotten.”
Freiburg celebrates thanks to late goals
Freiburg also had to struggle for a long time with another second division club. Hamadi Al Ghaddioui’s own goal in the 87th minute and Nils Petersen (94′) ended Sandhausen’s dream of an upset. Philipp Lienhart played through in defense for Freiburg, Michael Gregoritsch was substituted ten minutes before the end. At the goal to make it 1-0 after a corner kick, Lienhart headed for the ball, but the goal was counted as an own goal.
“I don’t know, I would take the goal,” said the Lower Austrian. “In the end we were rewarded, and that’s important.” Sandhausen again did without Marcel Ritzmaier, who no longer plays a role in coach Alois Schwartz’s plans. With VfB Stuttgart, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Union Berlin, four other Bundesliga clubs are already in the quarter-finals.
