An early goal and a short-term slippery goalkeeper will bring the third division team Energie Cottbus against the higher-higher Hannover 96 to enter the 2nd round of the DFB Cup.
Tolcay Cigerci scored the goal of the day at 1-0 (1-0) victory on Saturday (16.08.2025) after twelve minutes. In addition, energy goalkeeper Alexander Sebald held a penalty of the guests (41st) and was the gardening for the outsider with many other parades. Sebald only slipped into the goal shortly before kick -off because regular keeper Elias Bethke injured himself.
Cigerci has Cottbus cheered early
Cottbus started the game against the second division team with an enormous amount of energy. The team of coach Claus-Dieter Wollitz was in the game and bought Hanover from the cutting. Nevertheless, the guests had the first chance. But Sebald fished a Pichler header out of the corner (7th). However, the flag also went up. Offside. But Sebald already showed in this scene that it could be a special evening.
When Cigerci, after a nice individual performance by Erik Engelhardt, brought the hosts into the lead with a massive shot from the right-wing five-corner to the short corner, it smelled for the first time in Lusatia after Cup surprise. Especially when Sebald was on the spot again and again. In a one-on-one against Benedikt Pichler (18th) and against a shot from a short distance, also from Pichler (24th), Energie’s goalkeeper saved Stark.
Sportschau Bundesliga Highlights, 16.08.2025 8:12 p.m.
Sebald also becomes a penalty killer
The keeper had his greatest moment shortly before the break when there was a penalty after an awkward foul by Domink Pelivan on Pichler. Against Boris Tomiak, until then with seven converted penalty a safe shooter, Sebald suspected the corner and prevented the equalization. In halftime two things went on. Cottbus threw everything into the duels and what got through, Sebald held.
A deflected shot (63.) just not passed Cottbus’ man of the evening as a violent shot by Noel Aséko (64.). The longer the game lasted, the less it managed to provide relief. Hanover, with two victories under the new coach Christian Titz, actually started the second division season optimally, played in Energie’s half. But the Wollitz team, driven by the fans, did not leave the fans and was also lucky when a goal from Hannover (90.+2) was not given by a shot by Benjamin Källmann due to wafer-thin offside position.
In the end, energy earned the next round in a hectic final phase despite 4:13 goal shots in the next round.
Cottbus in Hoffenheim, Hanover welcomes Magdeburg
Cottbus meets in the 3rd league on Saturday afternoon (22.08.2025) on 1899 Hoffenheim II (2 p.m.). Hanover also welcomes 1. FC Magdeburg (1 p.m.) in the 2nd league in the 2nd league.