Countless Pyros burned in the Frankfurt curve Photo: REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
By Nicolas Sowa
RB Leipzig has won the DFB Cup for the second time. The Saxons defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 (0-0) in the final on Saturday in Berlin and thus defended their title from the previous year.
The Leipzig goals were scored by French international Christopher Nkunku (71st minute) and Dominik Szoboszlai (85). For coach Marco Rose, who took over at RB in September last year, it was the first title with the upstart.
Leipzig celebrates the lucky 1-0 lead by Christopher Nkunku (m.) Photo: REUTERS/Annegret Hilse
Both teams noticed the enormous importance of the game in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. The players fought intense duels, but the quality of play often fell by the wayside.
The fans from both camps caused the second half to be delayed during the break. The Hessian supporters threw several flares in the direction of the field, and a large cloud of smoke came from the Leipzig fans’ block.
From the Eintracht block, the chaotic fire from all tubes. It bangs again and again. Bengalos, smoke pots, firecrackers. Everything is there. In addition, the Frankfurt Ultras – who are always torn between ingenious choreographies and outbreaks of violence – provoke with a poster that reads about 20 meters wide: “Football terror in the final”..
Thick clouds of smoke rose from the Eintracht block, Pyros flew around, a banner proclaimed “Football terror in the final” Photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
A minute’s silence was held in the stadium before kick-off to commemorate the violent death of a 15-year-old youth player from Berlin. Both fan camps stopped choreographing and cheering. The DFB appeal “Together against violence” could be read on a banner and the gangs.