Third division club in the final
© Imago
Cup madness on the Bielefeld Alm: Third division Arminia has thrown defending champion Bayer Leverkusen from the DFB Cup and achieved the final in Berlin for the first time. On a memorable football evening, the East Westphalia defeated the highly favorite team of coach Xabi Alonso 2-1 (2: 1).
Marius Wörl (20th minute) and Maximilian Große (45.+3) scored the goals for the blatant outsider in front of 26,601 spectators. They gave the Arminia fans a historic party night.
For the first time since the 1st FC Union Berlin 2001, a third -class club has been in the final. In Berlin, Arminia will play either against VfB Stuttgart or RB Leipzig on May 24th, who compete in the second semi -finals this Wednesday (8:45 p.m./ZDF and Sky).
Bayer 04, on the other hand, threatens a season without title after the double last year. In the Bundesliga, Leverkusen is six points behind leaders FC Bayern Munich. The Rhinelander have already left the Champions League. Without her injured superstar Florian Wirtz, the Leverkuseners lacked the punch on the offensive. Bayer seemed strangely uninspired and affected unusual inattention in the back. Only Jonathan Tah scored for the Werkelf (17th).
The game has been electrified Bielefeld for days. With a large fan march and a lot of pyrotechnics, the fans got in the mood for the evening. They passed the houses decorated with flags and scarves. The teams received both the Bielefeld and the Leverkusen supporters with large choreographies.
“We have to leave the last drop of sweat on the pitch,” said Bielefeld’s coach Mitch Kniat Kniat before the game at “Sky”. A gripping cup fight developed from the start. Leverkusen took control, Bielefeld held against it with a lot of effort. Nevertheless, the guests used a corner for early tour. Alejandro Grimaldo flanked, Amine Adli extended and national defender Tah scored from a short distance.
But if you thought that Leverkusen had taken the courage to the Arminia, it was deceived. Bielefeld equalized in return. Bayer’s Piero Hincapié involuntarily presented and Wörl hit the corner. For the 20-year-old, it was the third goal in the competition.
And the hosts continued: Noah Sarenren Bazeee already had the 2-1 on his foot. However, the striker failed freely due to Bayer keeper Lukas Hradecky, who was given advantage over Matej Kovar for the first time in this cup season. Shortly before the break, the alpine pasture finally became a Tollhaus. Louis Oppie hit a perfect free kick and Große pressed the ball over the line in the jump. “What’s going on here?” The stadium speaker roared in disbelief into the microphone.
Even after the break, Leverkusen did not find his game. Bayer 04 got hardly any speed in his actions and searched in vain for gaps in the well -stocked Bielefeld defensive. Alonso ran up and down nervously in his coaching zone. Again and again the Spaniard tried to intervene. It didn’t help.
Bielefeld was closer to the third goal than Leverkusen equalized. It was only in the final phase that the guests came to more dangerous degrees. Bielefeld’s goalkeeper Jonas Kersken and the post saved the Arminia the narrow lead.