DFB Cup
Two early goals: Wolfsburg doesn’t give Makkabi Berlin a chance
He had every reason to smile: Wolfburg’s coach Niko Kovac. photo
© Andreas Gora/dpa
Oberliga club TuS Makkabi Berlin is the first Jewish club to compete in the DFB Cup. The Berliners play bravely against VfL Wolfsburg, but the favorites make things clear early on.
Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg won in the first round of the DFB Cup at the Berlin fifth division club TuS Makkabi, the first Jewish club in the competition.
Lower Saxony won 6-0 (2-0) in the Mommsen Stadium. Lukas Nmecha (8th minute) and Jonas Wind (9th) scored for Niko Kovac’s team and nipped Makkabi’s hopes of a sensation early on. Tiago Tomás (54th, 89th), Yannick Gerhardt (57th) and Ridle Baku (79th) increased in front of 5,000 spectators in the second half.
Nationwide recognition
Makkabi was the first Jewish club to qualify by winning the Berlin State Cup – 85 years after its predecessor, Bar Kochba, had been banned in Germany under Nazi rule. The club’s success earned it nationwide recognition. DFB President Bernd Neuendorf followed the game in the stadium.
After the successful start of the competitive game next Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky), Wolfsburg welcomes promoted 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 on the first Bundesliga matchday. For Makkabi, after the highlight in the Berlin State Cup, the mission of defending the title at the Berlin TSC starts on Wednesday.
No Fritzt-Walter weather
Maccabi trainer Wolfgang Sandhowe’s wish for bad weather conditions to compensate for the class difference was not fulfilled: no rain, no hail. Full-back Joakim Maehle, who had only been signed by Atalanta Bergamo on Saturday, made his debut for the Wolves.
Maccabi started boldly. Every successful action triggered great cheers in the audience. But the Bundesliga side quickly made things clear with two goals in quick succession. Nmecha converted a rebound from the post. Immediately afterwards, Makkabi’s goalkeeper Jack Krause wanted to play Wind after a back pass. The attempt failed, the Dane pushed in.
The Lower Saxony then downshifted a bit, but could have led higher. A goal by Kanto Voahariniaina (28th) for the home side did not count because of a narrow offside position. Shortly after the break, Tomás, who came on for the injured Nmecha, made the final decision. The forces of the Berliners subsided. Gerhardt, Baku and again Tomás made the final score.