Ex-bremer Young decides
© Imago
SV Werder Bremen once again pulled the shorter against Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup. As in the quarter-finals of the pre-season, in the 2-1 in February this year, the East Westphalia prevailed against the green-whites. DSC attacker and ex-Werderaner Isaiah Young only scored the decisive goal in injury time. After less than an hour, Werder’s midfielder Leonardo Bittencourt had seen yellow-red.
For Arminia it is already the third cup success against the Bremen; In addition to the triumph last season, Werder also ended in the round of 16 in 2015 at the Bielefeld Alm.
Both teams started at high speed in the expected intense duel. The guests had the first big chance. After passing by Justin Njinmah, Marco Grüll shot past the long corner from a pointed angle (14th). Shortly afterwards there was the first moment of terror for the home side: Tim Handwerker had to get off the pitch with problems on the thigh (20th). With an ongoing playing time and flattening pace, Werder increasingly took command. After a cross from Patrice Covic, Felix Agu aimed over the goal (33rd). Bremen’s goalkeeper Michael Zetterer, who is probably faced with a move to Eintracht Frankfurt, remained largely unemployed. A free kick by Stefano Russo on the edge of the penalty area flew over his goal (39th).
Immediately after the restart, Zetterer clarified a flat cross from Joel Grodowski, who found no buyer in the penalty area. Then it got wild: Bremen’s Bittencourt looked at Sam Schreck (52nd) after fouls and two minutes later on Marvin Mehlem yellow-red. In the hectic phase, Arminias Julian Kania first shot out of the center line over the goal (55th), a little later his hoe trick landed in the arms of Zetterer (57.). Bielefeld could be showered in the ranks of the heated mood and pushed forward. Another long -range shot from Kania went over the goal again (69th). On the other hand, Jonas Kersken parried against Grüll (82nd). After the end of the regular season, the home side finally cheered: After a counterattack on the right side over Benjamin Boakye, the substitute gave the winger over the left side over on Young. The completely bare inserted to the winning goal in the 93rd minute.
Leverkusen wins after thunderstorm – Union Berlin confidently
Erik Ten Hag has experienced a turbulent competitive debut as a trainer of Bayer Leverkusen. A false start remained the Dutch with the hard-fought and for a long time not sovereign 4: 0 (1-0) in the first DFB Cup round at fourth division SG Sonnenhof Großaspach.
After the game had been interrupted for almost 40 minutes because of a thunderstorm, striker Patrik Schick scored for the favorite Bundesliga club in the 32nd minute. After the break, Großaspach weakened twice: Captain Volkan Celiktas saw yellow-red (66.), his teammate Mert Tasdelen even smooth red (82nd). The other Leverkusen goals scored Arthur (74th), Christian Kofane (84th) and Alejandro Grimaldo by penalty (87th).
The 1. FC Union Berlin has effortlessly moved into the second round of the DFB Cup. The team of coach Steffen Baumgart won 5-0 (3-0) at the regional league team FC Gütersloh. It is the tenth year in a row in which the Union moves into the second round. Union was far from a first round. In front of 9,236 spectators in the sold-out Ohlendorf stadium, Robert Skov (19th minute) led the free kick as well as the central defender Leopold Querfeld (34th) and Danilho Doekhi (43.) After a corner, the team on the winning road early on. In the final phase, Andrej Ilic (78th) and Woo-Yeong Jeong (90.+4) met the final score.
In the Ludwigspark, the surprise cup semi-finalist from 2024, 1. FC Saarbrücken, initially did not show any class difference against 1. FC Magdeburg. Almost out of nowhere, however, the guests countered the Saarlanders: Martijn Kaars scored 1-0 (43.). New signing Rayan Ghrieb (45.+2, 59.) scored twice for Magdeburg before Tim Civeja (67th) shortened to 1: 3.