Tag: DFB Pokal

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Leipzig edge out Dortmund to reach Pokal semis

Timo Werner

Mueez Ajao

– Holders RB Leipzig beat toothless Borussia Dortmund 2-0 to reach the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and snap their three-game losing run across all competitions.

– Leipzig, desperate to end their recent losing run, pressed high from the start and carved out chance after chance against a dazed Dortmund team.

– The visitors still looked to be feeling the effects of Saturday’s 4-2 loss to league leaders Bayern Munich, and were unable to stop the waves of early Leipzig attacks or mount any offensive challenge of their own.

Also Read: Freiburg knock Bayern out of Pokal with last-second goal

– The hosts’ dominance paid off after 22 minutes when Germany forward Werner, who had earlier gone close, tapped in to give Leipzig a well-deserved lead.

– Dortmund briefly tried to come back in the second half but they were lucky not to concede a second goal when Konrad Laimer broke clear in the 78th but failed to beat keeper Gregor Kobel in a one-on-one.

– Even the introduction of Anthony Modeste, a third Dortmund striker, in the 85th minute did not help Edin Terzic’s team get the equaliser, with Leipzig keeper Janis Blaswich making a superb stoppage-time save.

– Instead it was Leipzig who scored again on the break with Willi Orban sealing their victory.

– Dortmund have now won only one of their last five matches in all competitions, including a Champions League Round of 16 loss to Chelsea, and have dropped to second place in the Bundesliga, two points behind Bayern, with eight games left.

– The Bavarians crashed out of the Cup on Tuesday following a shock 2-1 home loss to Freiburg while Eintracht Frankfurt advanced with a 2-0 victory over Union Berlin.

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Freiburg knock Bayern out of Pokal with last-second goal

Freiburg

Mueez Ajao

– Lucas Hoeler scored a 95th-minute penalty as Freiburg came from behind to knock Bayern Munich out of the German Cup in the quarter-finals.

– Bayern took the lead through Dayot Upamecano’s header but Nicolas Hoefler equalised eight minutes later.

– Hoeler converted from the spot after Jamal Musiala handled in the box to book Freiburg’s semi-final place.

Also Read: Tuchel lauds Bayern in 4-2 win over Dortmund, but demands more

– It was Thomas Tuchel’s second game in charge after Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in the league on Saturday.

– The Munich club sacked boss Julian Nagelsmann after they dropped behind Dortmund in the Bundesliga table and replaced him with Tuchel, who managed their rivals from 2015 to 2017.

– Tuchel’s side dominated the cup tie for large parts but Hoefler’s rocket from outside the box after Kingsley Coman scuffed a clearance drew Freiburg level and Hoeler’s late spot-kick sealed a shock win.

– Freiburg lost last year’s final on penalties to RB Leipzig while Bayern have failed to reach the last four for the third successive year.

– Elsewhere Randal Kolo Muani scored twice in as many minutes to secure Eintracht Frankfurt’s progress in the cup with a 2-0 win against Union Berlin.

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Cancelo stars on debut as Bayern hit 4 against Mainz in DFB Pokal

Leroy Sane and Joao Cancelo

Mueez Ajao

– Joao Cancelo made an instant impact on his Bayern Munich debut as they cruised into the German Cup quarter-final with a 4-0 win at Mainz.

– The Portuguese full-back, who joined on loan from Manchester City on Tuesday, crossed for Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s volleyed opener on 17 minutes.

– Jamal Musiala drilled home a second soon after before Leroy Sane’s calm finish made it three before the break.

Jamal Musiala

Also Read: OFFICIAL: Cancelo joins Bayern on loan from Man City

– Alphonso Davies headed home a fourth late on for a dominant Bayern.

– Mainz’s Alexander Hack was then dismissed for a lunge on Musiala, just minutes after manager Bo Svensson was sent off for dissent, as Bayern ended a run of three straight draws for their first win of 2023.

– Cancelo, 28, has played an integral part in the Premier League titles Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have won in the past two seasons, but has fallen out of favour and looks destined for a future away from Etihad, with the deal including an option to join permanently for £61.5m in the summer.

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Bayern thump Augsburg in German Cup

Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies

Mueez Ajao

– Bayern Munich shrugged off an early scare to send FC Augsburg out of the German Cup with a comfortable 5-2 win in the second round on Wednesday.

– Hosts Augsburg took a deserved lead after nine minutes when Mads Pedersen picked up the ball outside the box and fired a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.

– Bayern levelled after 27 minutes when Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting collected a through ball from Serge Gnabry and beat keeper Tomas Koubek from an acute angle.

Also Read: Five-star Bayern batter slack Freiburg

– Joshua Kimmich sent Bayern ahead after 53 minutes when Sadio Mane intercepted a defensive pass from Carlos Gruezo, the ball ending up with Kimmich who scored from the edge of the box.

– Choupo-Moting made it 3-1 in the 59th minute before Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano breathed life into the game six minutes later when he accidentally flicked in an own goal.

– Bayern struck again in the 74th minute when Alphonso Davies nutmegged Lukas Petkov in the corner before passing the ball to Jamal Musiala who buried the ball into the corner of the net.

– Davies scored himself one minute into stoppage time to complete the rout.

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Easy DFB Pokal business for Bayern

Sadio Mane

Mueez Ajao

– A much-changed Bayern Munich team eased past third tier Viktoria Cologne 5-0 on Wednesday to move into the German Cup second round.

– Coach Julian Nagelsmann made seven changes to the team that drew against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend with an eye on their Champions League game at Inter Milan next week.

– His team needed time to settle in and new signing Ryan Gravenberch slotted in for a deserved lead in the 35th minute despite a gutsy performance by the hosts.

Also Read: Sane saves point for Bayern with late equalizer

– French teenager Mathys Tel, who also arrived this season, confirmed his status as one of the most exciting prospects in European football when he rifled in a fine solo effort on the stroke of half-time.

– Sadio Mane, another new signing, made it 3-0 in the 53rd following a quick break to put the game to bed.

– Tel should have scored again when he was sent through with only the Viktoria keeper to beat but Ben Voll stood his ground to deny the 17-year-old.

– Substitute Jamal Musiala did better four minutes later, slotting in from close range before fellow substitute Leon Goretzka, on his comeback from injury, completed the rout.

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Nkunku crowns incredible season with winning DFB-Pokal

Mueez Ajao

– RB Leipzig claimed the first major trophy in their 13-year history after Domenico Todesco’s side edged past Freiburg 4-2 on penalties in the DBK Pokal final.

– It was third time lucky for Leipzig, who had lost two Pokal finals in the past three years. Meanwhile, Freiburg’s 118 year wait for a major honour goes on.

– Leipzig, who played 60 minutes with 10 men, beat Freiburg 4-2 on penalties in the DBF Pokal final, with the two teams having been level at 1-1 after 120 minutes at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.

Also Read: Christopher Nkunku is named Bundesliga Player of the Season

– Maximilian Eggestein opened the scoring for Freiburg midway through the first half in controversial fashion, after the ball was directed into the German midfielder’s path by the hand of team-mate Roland Sallai.

– In the second half Freiburg’s Lucas Holer was cynically brought down by Marcel Halstenberg, who received a straight red card, yet Leipzig still managed to find a way back in the game after talisman Christopher Nkunku claimed his 35th goal of the season to level proceedings.

– Freiburg hit the woodwork three times in extra time, while Leipzig had a massive shout for a penalty waved away by the referee moments before the end of extra time after Olmo was brought down by Hofler in the box.

– Leipzig subsequently won 4-2 on penalties and claimed the first trophy in their 13-year history having lost two of the previous three cup finals.

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Second tier side St. Pauli knock holders Dortmund out of the DFB Pokal

Mueez Ajao

– Holders Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of the German Cup on Tuesday when they suffered a shock last-16 defeat to second division side St Pauli.

– The Bundesliga 2 leaders struck early in the first half when Etienne Amenyido finished from close range.

– A strong Dortmund side fell further behind in the 40th minute when Axel Witsel turned a cross into his own net.

Also Read: Haaland scores on return as Dortmund move top

– Erling Braut Haaland reduced the deficit from the penalty spot but St Pauli held on for a famous win.

– Dortmund’s Bundesliga rivals Cologne also went out to second-tier opposition, losing on penalties to Hamburg SV after the game ended 1-1, while Bochum beat Mainz 3-1.