DFB Cup Quarterfinals
Three years after the last semi-final participation, Hamburger SV is again among the top four teams in the DFB Cup. The North Germans won against Karlsruher SC 3-2 (2-2, 2-2, 0-1) on penalties on Wednesday evening and turned a temporary 0-2 deficit.
In front of 25,000 spectators, Philip Heise (40th minute) scored the goals for KSC with a free kick and Philipp Hofmann (50th minute). HSV striker Robert Glatzel (28, photo) equalized with two goals (52nd, 90th + 1). After yellow-red for Christoph Kobald (72nd), the Karlsruhe team only played with ten professionals. Sonny Kittel missed a penalty kick for HSV (72nd). In the penalty shoot-out, Karlsruhe’s Daniel O’Shaughnessy hit the post with the decisive try.
RB Leipzig is not naked in Hanover
The big favorite RB Leipzig easily reached the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. After a strong performance, the Saxons won 4-0 (2-0) at second division side Hannover 96 on Wednesday evening and are now only two wins away from winning the first title in the club’s young history. Christopher Nkunku (24) scored in front of 25,000 spectators in the 17th and 22nd minute for the fourth-placed Bundesliga team. After the break, Konrad Laimer (67th) and André Silva (73rd) scored for the 2019 and 2021 cup finalists.
Cup fever had previously broken out in Hanover. The 96 team bus was greeted by hundreds of fans at the stadium – Hannover had last reached a quarter-final 15 years ago. In addition, the club entered a larger stage for the first time after a sporting decline that had lasted for more than three years. The atmosphere at the beginning of the game was correspondingly euphoric: Christoph Dabrowski’s team only played openly in the opening minutes.
Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco had rotated a lot compared to 1-0 on Sunday in Bochum. With seven new players in the starting XI, the Bundesliga side gained the necessary security after just 15 minutes. A good switching moment was enough for the lead. Dani Olmo played a simple pass to Nkunku, who was able to beat the passive Hannover defense too easily and scored.
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Just a few minutes later, after winning a duel in midfield, Josko Gvardiol played a strong pass to Nkunku, who quickly passed 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler and hit the empty goal. As the game progressed, the class difference became even clearer. There was not much to see from the Hanoverian upswing in the 2nd division with seven points from three games. Benjamin Henrichs missed the big chance to make it 3-0 (43rd minute) just before the break, and RB managed the game cleverly after the break.
The Hanover fans continued to cheer their team on with their voices, but the second division team didn’t create many more opportunities. But the Leipzig: First Laimer met after a short, quick combination and then Silva.
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