As of: November 15, 2025 11:07 p.m
The VfL Wolfsburg footballers have confidently reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. Coach Stephan Lerch’s team deservedly won 3-1 (1-0) on Saturday against Bundesliga rivals SC Freiburg after a concentrated performance.
Lineth Beerensteyn (23rd), an own goal from SC defender Nia Szenk (49th) and substitute Cora Zicai (64th) ensured Wolfsburg’s success. Sophie Nachtigall scored Freiburg’s consolation goal shortly before the end (86th). The Lerch team had the game completely under control except for a few moments shortly before and shortly after the break, were strong in their running and good at counterattacking.
“Overall it was a very good game for us.”
VfL captain Svenja Huth
The strong Svenja Huth was pleased with her team’s performance after the game: “It was dominant and confident.” The only thing that annoyed the captain was the late goal and some transition moments that, in her opinion, were not played so well. Especially since Lerch was even able to rest players from the middle of the second half due to the interim 3-0 lead.
An advantage given the program for the coming days. The Nidersachsen team continues on Wednesday with the important Champions League home game against Manchester United (6.45 p.m., in the NDR Livecenter), before they play in the league on Sunday against RB Leipzig (12 p.m., also in the NDR Livecenter).
Beerensteyn scores after VfL’s dream combination
The game in Wolfsburg was very intense at the beginning. Both teams tried to press hard and stressed their opponents. The “Wolves” were the slightly better team and had more high ball wins, but they were initially unable to create any chances to score.
That changed in the 23rd minute, when the first completed attack led directly to 1-0 for VfL. Huth volleyed a diagonal ball on the far side to Kessya Bussy. The Frenchwoman passed directly to Beerensteyn, who had run in, who maneuvered the ball into the goal from an eleven-meter central position on the right. A fantastic attack at top speed and the deserved lead.
Wolfsburg’s keeper Johannes makes a strong save
The goal brought further security: Judit Pujols (26th), Camilla Küver (29th) and Beerensteyn (34th) had chances. The Dutchwoman in particular could have, perhaps even should, have scored the second goal – free in front of SC keeper Laura Benkarth.
And that almost took revenge shortly before the half-time whistle: After a corner from the right side, Freiburg’s central defender Greta Stegemann artistically heeled a ball onto the Wolfsburg goal. National goalkeeper Stina Johannes reacted quickly and scratched the attempt from the left corner (44th).
Freiburg’s Szenk with an own goal – Zicai makes everything clear
The guests also dominated the start of the second half and now scored – albeit in their own goal. Huth passed sharply into the middle from the right side, where Szenk wanted to clear in front of Beerensteyn, but the ball slammed under the crossbar unstoppable for Benhardt (49′). That was doubly bitter, as the Breisgau women had previously missed the chance to equalize twice within a few seconds thanks to Lisa Kolb and Mia Lena Maas (47th).
The “Wolves” then had everything under control again and made the decision a good quarter of an hour later: Alexandra Popp played a strong pass to the left to Zicai, who had recently been substituted. The 20-year-old hooked past Szenk and sent the ball into the right corner (64′). The guests’ impressive consolation goal from Nachtigall, who had received the ball strongly with the outside of her foot before firing it into the bottom right corner (86′), did not change VfL’s progress.