DFB Cup: Leipzig stops Frankfurt in the cup

RB Leipzig has ended its results crisis and reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup. The 2022 and 2023 cup winners won 3-0 (1-0) against their recently strong league rivals Eintracht Frankfurt, taking some of the pressure off coach Marco Rose. VfL Wolfsburg, 1. FC Köln and FC Augsburg also advanced to the next round.

The Leipzig professionals around the goal scorers Benjamin Sesko (31st minute) and Loïs Openda (50th/58th) sent a clear signal for Rose. The team especially celebrated the third goal extensively with their coach, who had come under criticism after six competitive games without a win.

In the new edition of the 2023 final, the Saxons were keen from the start to make up for the bitter 5-1 defeat against VfL Wolfsburg last weekend. Frankfurt never really came into play.

Wolfsburg benefits from Baumann’s mistake

Wolfsburg also won 3-0 (0-0) in another Bundesliga duel with TSG Hoffenheim. With the first goal by Denis Vavro (63′), VfL benefited from a mistake by Hoffenheim’s national goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who let the ball slip through his hands. The other goals were scored by Jonas Wind (67th) and Yannick Gerhardt (85th).

Ljubicic shoots Cologne further after a missed shot

Cologne won a thrilling cup game against second division rivals Hertha BSC 2-1 (1-1, 1-1) after extra time. Ibrahim Maza (12th) had put the visitors from Berlin in the lead with a converted penalty kick before Hertha’s Deyovaisio Zeefuik was shown the red card for assault (25th). An own goal by Florian Niederlechner (30th) and a converted penalty kick by Dejan Ljubicic in stoppage time of extra time (120th + 1) turned the game in Cologne’s favor.

In the first half of extra time, Ljubicic was unable to get the ball into the empty goal from just a few centimeters away. For Cologne it was the first place in the quarter-finals since the 2009/10 season.

Augsburg wins on penalties

FC Augsburg secured the last place in the quarter-finals. After a show of strength, the Bundesliga team prevailed 5-4 on penalties against their second division team, Karlsruher SC. After extra time the score was 2-2. Ruben Vargas equalized for Augsburg in extra time (120+3). Fabian Schleusener (54th) and Marvin Wanitzek (111th) turned the game around for KSC after Samuel Essende’s opening goal (40th).

Defending champions Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Arminia Bielefeld, the last remaining third division team in the competition, had already made it to the quarter-finals on Tuesday.