An unusual goal, a hand penalty after minutes of video evidence and a counter goal worth seeing: Borussia Dortmund reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup in an intense Ruhrpott derby in frosty temperatures. VfL goalkeeper Manuel Riemann involuntarily scored the spectacular opening goal in BVB’s 2-1 (1-0) win in Bochum. Emre Can’s shot almost from the center line into the empty goal after an unsuccessful rescue operation shortly before the break (45 + 1) initiated Dortmund’s fifth mandatory victory in a row after the winter break.
A four-minute video proof preceded the equalization by Kevin Stöger (64th, hand penalty). VfL captain Anthony Losilla shot the ball in the elbow of Dortmund’s Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. Only after a long study of the slow motion did referee Tobias Stieler stick to his penalty decision. Substitute Marco Reus (70th) saved the third-placed Bundesliga player a week before the round of 16 in the Champions League against Chelsea, who was currently the best home team in the Bundesliga. For the first time since Thomas Letsch took over as coach, VfL did not leave the field as winners in the Ruhr Stadium.
The eagerly awaited duel between the Schlotterbeck brothers was initially canceled. Dortmund’s Nico and Bochum’s Keven, both of whom were with SC Freiburg in the cup final in Berlin last year, were on the bench at kick-off. National player Nico Schlotterbeck came into play shortly after the break – and to see the Japanese Takuma Asano again, whom he had been chasing at the World Cup in Qatar. Assistant referee Christian Gittelmann, who was hit in the head by a full beer mug on March 18, 2022, made his comeback in the Ruhr Stadium – largely unnoticed. The Bundesliga game against Borussia Mönchengladbach was then canceled and scored against Bochum.
Cups didn’t fly this time, but rockets from the BVB block did. When the clouds of smoke cleared, Dortmund fired the first warning shot through Sebastien Haller (7′). Bynoe-Gittens failed a little later at Riemann (14th). The Bochum keeper was also challenged by a free kick from Julian Brandt (24th). The hosts held back with a lot of fighting power and were cheered for every tackle. The numerous duels stifled any orderly build-up play on both sides for a long time. The first really successful attack ended after a pass from Jude Bellingham and gave Haller a great chance (43′). Riemann helped with BVB’s lead when he played the ball in the middle to Can completely unnecessarily after a trip out of the penalty area.
After his goal, Can’s first thought was of the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. He kissed the black ribbon that both teams wore to mark the disaster and then stretched his arm in the air.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei initially missed the big chance to equalize, who failed completely free to BVB keeper Gregor Kobel (54th). Then the penalty made it 1-1 – but then BVB opened up space to counterattack. After falling behind, VfL had no answer. In a turbulent and exciting final phase, goalkeeper Riemann left his goal several times – but Dortmund fended off all Bochum attacks.