DFB Cup
Mönchengladbach made a fool of themselves and Leipzig rumbled into the quarterfinals
Leipzig’s players around Dani Olmo (2nd from right) cheer after the 2-0.
© Jan Woitas / DPA
The top clubs in the DFB Cup, Dortmund and Bayern, are out. Hannover 96 celebrates their first entry into the quarter-finals in 15 years. And Leipzig is already thinking about the final. However, the road to get there could still be rocky.
Borussia Mönchengladbach made a fool of themselves at Hannover 96 and were kicked out of the DFB Cup after a disastrous performance. The completely indisposed team of coach Adi Hütter lost the second division soccer team in the round of 16 deservedly 0: 3 (0: 2). While Gladbach squandered the great opportunity to at least achieve something in the cup in what had been a weak season so far, Lower Saxony made it into the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years. In the second round, Borussia had spectacularly defeated FC Bayern Munich 5-0. The goals for Hannover were scored by Maximilian Beier (4th/51st minute) and Sebastian Kerk (36th/hand penalty).
After the defeat of champions Bayern and cup defenders Borussia Dortmund, winning the cup this year seems as easy as it is rare. Hannover are the next second division side to reach the last eight after Karlsruher SC, Hamburger SV and FC St. Pauli.
Defensive trio quickly overwhelmed
In the repeat of the 1992 final, when Hannover won the DFB Cup as a second division team, Matthias Ginter returned to the Gladbach starting line-up. The international, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was surprisingly only on the bench last weekend in the Bundesliga against Bayer Leverkusen (1-2). On his 28th birthday, Ginter played against Hannover right from the start together with Marvin Friedrich, who was signed as his successor from 1. FC Union Berlin.
After just under four minutes, the defensive trio of Ginter, Friedrich and Nico Elvedi were overwhelmed by the second division team. After a precise pass from Hendrik Weydandt, Beier was completely free in the penalty area and fired powerfully past goalkeeper Yann Sommer into the Gladbach goal. After that, Hannover acted in a disciplined and committed manner. The guests also made it easy for the second division club to be the better team with an uninspired and listless appearance.
Gladbacher pomadig, the hosts engaged
Newcomer Friedrich involuntarily paved the way for Hannover to make it 2-0. After video evidence, referee Florian Badstübner punished a handball by the defender with a penalty, which Kerk converted. Friedrich had already caused a penalty kick against Leverkusen, but Sommer was able to parry it. This time the Swiss was also on the ball, but couldn’t prevent the goal.
After the break, the picture remained the same: the Gladbachers pomadig, the hosts engaged. And the second division team used that consistently. Beier again countered with a technically fine shot from the outside of the foot to make it 3-0. In the 62nd minute, the midfielder hit the post again. The few chances for Mönchengladbach, including Denis Zakaria and Florian Neuhaus, were thwarted by Hanover’s keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
“Berlin, Berlin, we are driving to Berlin”
A club from the East was also allowed to celebrate. Mandatory task accomplished, already thinking about the final: RB Leipzig beat second division club FC Hansa Rostock 2-0 (1-0) in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup on Wednesday. After the elimination of the top clubs from Munich, Dortmund and Leverkusen, the only thing that counts for last year’s finalists is getting into the final again. Yussuf Poulsen (6th minute) paved the way for this with his first goal since the beginning of November, a few minutes before the end Dani Olmo (82nd), who had just been substituted, raised the bar – the few spectators allowed were already chanting “Berlin, Berlin, we are going to Berlin”.
Coach Domenico Tedesco experienced a premiere even before kick-off. For the first time in his RB career, which has been running since mid-December, the 36-year-old was welcomed by his own fans in the stadium. 1000 spectators had been approved, Leipzig’s first home game in front of fans since November.
And the supporters, among whom there were also some Hansa fans, were immediately spoiled in the grandstand. Lukas Klostermann crossed to the far post from the right. There Poulsen was completely free and headed in without any problems. It should remain one of the few warming scenes of the first half. Leipzig completely slowed down, Hansa was primarily concerned with defending anyway.
Chance for Leipzig
It only became dangerous when Christopher Nkunku was involved. A free kick by the top scorer landed on Willi Orban (28th), the defense chief’s shot on the outer post. Then Nkunku (39th) did it himself. His shot from the turn hit the crossbar. Hansa keeper Markus Kolke would have had no chance. His Leipzig colleague Peter Gulacsi was completely unemployed, so he was happy about his 250th competitive appearance for Leipzig, according to the club.
Hansa coach Jens Härtel had emphasized before the game that the league had priority and rotated accordingly. Top scorer John Verhoek didn’t even make the trip. But with the break only 0: 1, the former RB youth coach apparently sensed a chance. Bentley Baxter Bahn and Nico Neidhardt were two regulars, and Haertel brought Ryan Malone into play. Tedesco came on at a high level, bringing on striker André Silva for Poulsen.
Play with lulls
At least a little more momentum came into play on both sides. Klostermann (47′) fired a shot from 20 meters just wide of the goal and Hansa sent two signs of life. First, Streli Mamba (49′) hit the side netting after a counterattack, then a shot from Neidhardt (51′) hissed just wide of the far post.
However, the game then lost speed again, which was mainly due to RB’s deliberately slow build-up game. Silva (60th) could have headed the second goal, but Kolke was there. Hansa tried a few counterattacks, but often failed because of their own quality. The game was finally over when Olmo scored to make it 2-0 with a dry shot after a pass from Nkunku.