The bottom of the Bundesliga table are also having a hard time in the second round of the DFB Cup. But while Bochum celebrates late at the third division, Schalke presents itself disastrously in Hoffenheim. Wolfsburg wins the derby while second division leaders Darmstadt dupe Mönchengladbach.
SV Darmstadt 98 – Borussia Monchengladbach 2: 1 (1: 0)
Borussia Mönchengladbach said goodbye to the thrilling second division leaders Darmstadt 98 early in the DFB Cup. Coach Daniel Farke’s team disappointed in the 1:2 (0:1) against rebellious Lilien over long stretches and missed the entry into the round of 16 after an uninspired performance. Phillip Tietz (23rd) and Aaron Seydel (79th) shocked the favorite Bundesliga team in the atmospheric stadium at Böllenfalltor – and after 2013 ensured the underdog’s victory again. Luca Netz (48th) only managed to equalize in the meantime. Nine years ago, the Foals failed in a penalty shoot-out in the first round at the then third division team Darmstadt.
The game in front of 15,850 fans started with a moment of shock for Borussia. Goalkeeper Yann Sommer twisted his ankle early on when intercepting a cross. He was initially able to continue playing, but then had to be replaced by Tobias Sippel after just twelve minutes. Otherwise, not much went together in the Bundesliga sixth. Sluggish, unimaginative, vulnerable – this is how Farkes Elf presented itself, who for a long time found no remedy against the passionate performance of the Darmstadt team. Tietz punished Gladbach when he only had to push in after careful preliminary work by Marvin Mehlem.
The Lilies continued to throw everything into the balance, Matthias Bader hit the crossbar from a distance (33rd). The cracker was like a wake-up call for the guests from the Lower Rhine, who became dangerous for the first time just before the break. Marcus Thuram (37th) and Ngoumou (40th) failed.
VfL followed on from that in the second half, and Netz equalized with a tight finish. The team coached by Torsten Lieberknecht, who conquered the top of the second division at the weekend, remained vehement and reported back immediately with Braydon Manu’s (50th) post header. As a result, an open exchange of blows developed in some cases. In the heated atmosphere, however, Borussia often didn’t get the decisive pass, while the Darmstadt team, who continued to fight bravely, lost their strength.
Eintracht Braunschweig – VfL Wolfsburg 1: 2 (1: 1)
In a hard-fought neighborhood duel, Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg only barely reached the round of 16. In a long open game, coach Niko Kovac’s team won 2-1 (1-1) against second division promoted Eintracht Braunschweig. The Swede Mattias Svanberg gave the guests the lead in the eighth minute with a low shot. Maurice Multhaup, who lobbed the VfL goalkeeper Koen Casteels in the 40th minute, equalized in the meantime. Pole Jakub Kaminski scored the second Wolfsburg goal (65th).
In front of 22,000 spectators in the sold-out Eintracht Stadium, VfL quickly took control of the pitch after a wild initial phase. Goalscorer Svanberg in particular could hardly be stopped by the hosts and almost scored for the second time in the 20th minute. The 1:1 then fell out of nowhere, but Braunschweig went into the half-time break with confidence. Coach Michael Schiele’s team had to continue the encounter with weak personnel. Immanuel Pherai, who had been very conspicuous up to that point, had to leave the field after just under half an hour, apparently due to adductor problems.
After the change of sides, the eleventh team from the second division, who knocked out the first division team Hertha BSC in the first round, initially took the tailwind from the final phase of the first half with them. Braunschweig was now better in the duels, which Kovac acknowledged several times with an angry shake of the head.
The match remained exciting because neither team speculated on extra time, but wanted to force the decision in regular time. In the 62nd minute, the home side were only a few centimeters short when a shot from substitute Luc Ihorst grazed the outside of the post. On the other hand, Lukas Nmecha improved and was instrumental in the second Wolfsburg goal. But Braunschweig didn’t give up and didn’t let the guests catch their breath.
SV Elversberg – VfL Bochum 0: 1 (0: 0)
With a lucky punch, VfL Bochum has laboriously averted an embarrassment. The team of coach Thomas Letsch came to a happy 1-0 (0-0) at third division leaders SV Elversberg and reached the round of 16 for the third time in a row. Anthony Losilla (85th) scored the only goal, the uncertainty of the past few weeks was noticeable in the Bundesliga bottom in every phase of the game. The Saarlanders missed out on taking part in the round of 16 at the fifth attempt, but showed a few playful highlights on the big stage, as they did in the opening win against Bayer Leverkusen.
On the offensive, the Bundesliga team struggled without their top scorer Simon Zoller, and there was no sign of a class difference in front of 6,911 spectators. Instead, even the outsider showed the more mature game system, Kevin Koffi (15th) missed a first big chance. Then SVE captain Kevin Conrad had to go out injured.
The Saarland Cup winner needed a moment to sort himself out. However, apart from a slipped cross from Christopher Antwi-Adjei on the post (40th), VfL managed nothing. Coach Horst Steffen’s team selflessly defended man-to-man all over the field – and switched again and again at lightning speed. The only thing missing was the last pass.
After the change, Bochum improved a bit and held up better in the duels. Philipp Hofmann (55th) headed wide of the right after a free kick by centimeters. But the favorite didn’t get the Elversbergers’ counterattack completely under control, Jannik Rochelt (58th) hit the lower edge of the crossbar from a distance in the thickening fog.
TSG Hoffenheim – FC Schalke 04 5: 1 (3: 0)
That’s probably it for Frank Kramer. The heaviest cup smack for Schalke 04 in 17 years and the second bankruptcy within four days against TSG Hoffenheim should mean the end for the unsuccessful coach. The desperately overwhelmed promoted team lost 1:5 (0:3) at TSG, who had already won clearly in the Bundesliga game on Friday (3:0). Israeli Munas Dabbur (5th/43rd), Angelino (16th), ex-Schalke player Ozan Kabak (51st) and Pavel Kaderabek (63rd) scored for Hoffenheim. Thanks to the round of 16 and fourth place in the league under the direction of former Schalke coach Andre Breitenreiter, the Kraichgauer are right on target. Dominick Drexler (69th) shortened for Schalke.
In front of 15,633 spectators in Sinsheim, Angelino already had the lead for Hoffenheim after 99 seconds, but the full-back narrowly missed. Dabbur did better shortly after. The Schalke defense didn’t deserve its name in either scene. Even after the lead, the hosts, who had to do without star striker Andrej Kramaric, dominated the action. Dabbur failed to S04 goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow (13th).
The Schalke usually just ran behind. After about a quarter of an hour, Schwolow initially held strong again against Dennis Geiger, but seconds later the ball wriggled in the net. Angelino had deducted from the edge of the penalty area. As a result, a class difference became apparent over long stretches. The Schalke were inferior in all respects. Hoffenheim played cat and mouse with the guests, but forgot to score. Dabbur only increased the result shortly before the break.
In the second round nothing changed in the dominance of Hoffenheim. Before Kabak headed in from a free kick, the Schalke penalty area had been on fire several times. Even before Kaderabek’s fifth goal, it could have hit the S04 goal two or three times. After the goal, the Schalke fans who had traveled with them had no patience. “Kramer out” echoed through the arena. Schröder looked appropriately served on the bench, and Drexler’s goal didn’t change that.
