Berlin is getting closer and closer for HSV after the treble on penalties: Hamburger SV is in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup after a wild race to catch up and can dream more than ever of their first major title in 35 years. Thanks to goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, coach Tim Walter’s team won 3-2 on penalties against Karlsruher SC on Wednesday.
After extra time it was 2: 2 (2: 2, 0: 1) in the thrilling cup thriller between the two second division teams. Heuer Fernandes then made a decisive save against Marvin Wanitzek and Ricardo van Rhijn, and Daniel O’Shaughnessy also failed.
HSV had advanced on penalties in the two previous rounds. Double packer Robert Glatzel (52./90.+1) had equalized the 2-0 lead of KSC through Philip Heise (40.) and Philipp Hofmann (50.) and saved HSV into extra time. In the end, the brave guests perhaps lacked a bit of strength because the Badeners had to act outnumbered for a long time after Christoph Kobald (72nd) received a yellow-red card.
For the first time since 2019, HSV made it into the semi-finals of the DFB Cup, which the Rothosen last won in 1987. This year, the chance of triumph in Berlin is greater than it has been for years, as the heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were eliminated in the previous rounds.
“It will be anything but a sure-fire success,” said HSV sports director Jonas Boldt before the game – and he was right. Hamburg played aggressively forward, but inaccuracies or the well-organized KSC defense initially prevented the really big chances. Although HSV had more of the game overall, the guests were getting better and better at adjusting to the combinations – and for their part became bolder as the game went on, they sensed their chance. The lead by Heise after a nice free kick was anything but undeserved.
It got really wild after the restart. First Hofmann raised for Karlsruhe, Glatzel answered only seconds later with his head. Of course, HSV then pushed forward with all their might, Sonny Kittel and the fast Bakery Jatta were always wanted – but Kittel missed a controversial penalty after video evidence (72nd).
The Karlsruhe defended in front of 25,000 spectators in the Volkspark with everything they had – and then Glatzel got his toe on a cross from Jatta. The extension remained goalless, the decision was made on the spot.