DFB Cup: Bielefeld fails at Union Berlin

As of: October 29, 2025 11:54 p.m

In the duel between coaching friends Steffen Baumgart and Mitch Kniat, last year’s finalists Arminia Bielefeld had to bury their cup dreams early. The East Westphalia team lost 1:2 (1:1, 1:1) after extra time on Wednesday evening after a great fight against Union Berlin.

Leopold Querfeld gave the Köpenickers the lead against the guests, who were still looking sluggish at the time (11th), but Arminia Bielefeld reacted with more commitment and concentration and equalized with the first real goal action through Monju Momuluh (27th). Defender Danilho Doekhi scored the redeeming goal for the hosts in extra time (106th).

Before the game, players and fans held a very dignified minute’s silence for Union’s honorary member Hans-Joachim “Jochen” Lesching, who had died a few days earlier at the age of 84.

Union gets off to a better start

In the duel between the two coaching friends Steffen Baumgart and Mitch Kniat, the Union team got off to a better start in the game. Momuluh’s first early shot attempt at the host’s goal was far too weak, the Berliners acted more forcefully. Dnilho Doekhi shot half-right from the turn in the guests’ penalty area, but did not put the ball on goal.

And consequently, the Köpenick fans cheered, starting with a beautiful choreo entitled “Pokal alarm at Müggelsee”: Christopher Trimmel hit a free kick from the right half of the field in an exemplary manner onto the head of the incoming central defender Querfeld, who powerfully put the ball into the goal from close range.

Arminia with the right reaction

The guests from East Westphalia understood the sign that the goal meant very clearly and acted much more actively from then on. In the Bielefeld box, Jonas Kersken once again had to save with a long leg from a cross from Union’s most successful goalscorer this season, Ilyas Ansah. But the guests now showed themselves to be equal and more dangerous to score.

Momuluh failed with his second attempt – again the shot was far too weak. But, all good things come in threes, it should work on the next attempt. Tim Handwerker had hit a cross from the left to captain Mael Corboz, which he extended from the turn to the second post with his outside instep. There Momuluh prevailed against birthday boy Tom Rothe with a lot of will and maneuvered the ball into the goal centimeters ahead of the rushing Frederik Rönnow.

Arminia misses opportunities

The guests should have made more of their chances before the break. Noah Sarenren Bazee was unable to make perfect use of a steep pass in the home team’s penalty area and pushed the ball past the Berlin box as it fell to the right (33′). A little later, Joel Grodowski made the wrong decision on a counterattack and did not pass it to Marius Wörl or Momuluh, who were also running along, but instead tried a long shot from around 20 meters. But he was far too weak.

Post saves for Union

After the break, the Arminen continued to dominate the game. And Sarenren Bazee almost took the lead if his slide into Momuluh extra time hadn’t landed at the left post.

The guests from the second league continued to act on equal terms – but Berlin always managed to defend themselves against their pressure. The pace increased as the game went on, but the game remained very fair overall, despite all the competitiveness and various yellow cards.

Union fans sing throughout the game

Fired up by the constant chanting of its fans, Union became more determined again. Bielefeld held on, both teams looking for a way to the goal. The best chance was missed by the young Dmytro Bohdanov, who was substituted by Baumgart in the second half and made his debut in the Union professional team jersey (71st).

Kniat gave his attack fresh personnel and changed his entire attack. But Marvin Mehlem, Isaiah Young and Julian Kania also had a hard time.

The changes made by his friend Baumgart didn’t weaken the Union team either, but they didn’t bring the desired punch either. So it was Doekhi who, in the official final minute, headed a powerful but far too central header from a corner from the left and Kersken was able to excel again. It would have been the decision. But the game went into overtime.

Extension brings the decision

In the additional 30 minutes, both teams worked intensively on each other – despite the defeat, the cup heroes from Bielefeld showed no difference in performance. In the first half of extra time, Bielefeld had the best chance when substitute Isaiah Young broke through on the left half and shot flat with his left. The shot was promising, but Rönnow dived quickly and defused the attempt.

The guests were outnumbered and had to play the game from the second half of extra time onwards after Marvin Mehlem, who was brought into the game in the 75th minute, had to be replaced with Achilles problems, but Kniat had already exhausted all player substitutions. Many players had increasing cramps and sat on the grass to stretch.

And then it was the will of Doekhi who chased the ball under the crossbar into the Bielefeld goal from the turmoil in the six-yard box. Woo-yeong Jeong had crossed from the right, Rothe initially failed with a shot attempt, then the ball rolled to the feet of Doekhi, who reacted quickly.

Bielefeld is fighting like crazy – but unsuccessfully

Ten men in Bielefeld fought against the threat of defeat and elimination from the cup competition. Kersken, who had come forward, narrowly missed the goal with his head at a corner, but hit Union defender Diogo Leite in the head with his fist, which the referees missed. Leite was able to continue. Then referee Harm Osmers blew the whistle and Union Berlin is in the cup round of 16 (December 2nd/3rd).

Union against Freiburg, Bielefeld in Darmstadt

Union Berlin will face SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga next Saturday (3:30 p.m.), Bielefeld will play a league lower and SV Darmstadt a few hours later (8:30 p.m.).