Hertha BSC moved into the DFB Cup quarter-finals with a strong performance against the overwhelmed 1.FC Kaiserslautern. Hertha talent Kennet Eichhorn makes cup history.
It was an evening in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium that will remain in the memory of everyone involved for a long time: Hertha BSC clearly beat 1.FC Kaiserslautern 6-1 (3-1) in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup and is now in the quarter-finals of the competition. Coach Stefan Leitl’s team had an almost perfect day.
The result against their league rivals could have been significantly higher; the Berliners had three aluminum hits in addition to the goals. Hertha underlined their brilliant form; it was their seventh win in a row across all competitions.
The goals for the Berliners were scored by Luca Schuler (5th; 60th), Marten Winkler (21st), Kennet Eeichhorn (31st), Dawid Kownacki (75th) and Maurice Krattenmacher (80th). Marlon Ritter scored for the Palatinate (45th + 2).
Coach Torsten Lieberknecht’s team, on the other hand, had to return home with the sobering realization that they had no chance against this Berlin team and were completely overwhelmed.
Skytta misses the chance to take the lead
The Palatinate players controlled dominantly and pushed the Berliners deep into their half. After two minutes, the Lauterers already had a great opportunity to take the lead. After a precise cross from Marlon Ritter, Naatan Skytta headed the ball from six meters straight into the arms of Hertha goalkeeper Tjark Ernst. Hertha first had to find itself and received unwanted help from the guests.
After a completely unsuccessful back pass from FCK defender Maxwell Gyamfi, Hertha attacker Luca Schuler ran alone towards goalkeeper Simon Simoni, went around him and made it 1-0.
Winkler with a spectacular solo run
And just five minutes later it was Schuler again who scored the second goal. After a vehement tackle, he shot the ball at an acute angle to the inside post of the Lauterer goal, from where the ball bounced back into the field.
Despite the early deficit, the Lieberknecht team remained active and willing to dominate the game. However, they ran the risk of being exposed to dangerous counterattacks from Berlin.
And one of these quick counterattacks led to Berlin’s spectacular second goal. Marten Winkler received the ball in his own penalty area, accelerated at top speed, dribbled around three opponents on the long way to the opponent’s goal and coldly converted to make it 2-0.
Eichhorn calm and successful
The Hertha team looked extraordinarily fresh and lively and were clearly superior to the Palatinate team in terms of speed. The FCK defense chain in particular was not able to keep up with the pace of the Berliners.
Hertha followed up in a furious manner. First Mickael Cuisance tried from around 30 meters with a cracker against the crossbar of the Lauterer goal. The rebounded ball landed back at Hertha, who immediately played the ball back to the top.
The 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn was the first to recognize the situation, ran into the Lauter penalty area and converted flatly and confidently from 14 meters to make it 3-0. This makes the great talent the youngest player to score in this cup competition. The Palatinate team left the Leitl team almost undisturbed. And the Berliners kept going.
Ritter shortens for Lautern
After 43 minutes, Fabian Reese hit the ball against the crossbar from ten meters. Simoni was able to neutralize the rebound that fell at Schuler’s feet with a brilliant save. The first half could have been a real debacle for the Lauter team.
Nevertheless: Despite the long deficit, the Palatinate team still didn’t give up. Immediately before the half-time whistle, Ritter made it 1:3 with a shot from 18 meters.
FCK’s goal gave the Palatinate team renewed hope that they might still be able to do the impossible and at least save themselves into extra time. The Lieberknecht team was correspondingly committed in the second round. But Hertha stayed true to their style and relied on the opponent’s mistakes and their quick switching game.
Fair morals broken
And again it was a counterattack that led to the next goal for the Berliners after an hour. Cuisance sent Schuler on his way with a deep pass, the attacker converted from 15 meters past the somewhat unhappy goalkeeper Simoni to make it 4-1. From this point on, the morale of the people of Lauter was broken.
Dawid Kownacki, who had just been substituted, made it 5-1 from close range after a Simoni bad pass and an assist from Maurice Krattenmacher. And the Berliners really enjoyed this game and the many goals. They continued to attack undeterred and remained accurate. Just five minutes later, Krattenmacher increased the score from ten meters to 6:1 – and thus the final score.