News (engl.)

Borussia Dortmund are into the DFB-Pokal round of 16 after edging Eintracht Frankfurt in a dramatic penalty shootout. Tuesday evening’s top-tier clash between two five-time cup winners ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with BVB eventually prevailing 4-2 on penalties.

Elsewhere, second-division side Holstein Kiel pulled off a surprise win over Bundesliga outfit VfL Wolfsburg, while HSV also progressed thanks to a late penalty in Heidenheim. Hertha BSC beat Elversberg 3-0 in an all-2. Bundesliga encounter to reach the last 16 for the third year in a row.

BVB hold their nerve from the spot

Dortmund started well but fell behind when Mario Götze slipped a perfect pass through for Ansgar Knauff, who calmly slotted past Gregor Kobel (7’). The visitors responded well, seeing more of the ball but struggling to break down a disciplined Frankfurt defence. Ritsu Dōan (38’) and Arthur Theate (40’) came close to netting a second for the hosts.

BVB were then able to quickly draw level after the break, as Julian Brandt converted from close range. Dōan struck the crossbar with a fierce drive (79’), before Can Uzun (81’) and Fabio Silva (90+1’) both brought top saves from the opposing keeper. Frankfurt came close again in extra-time through Dōan (92’) and Chaibi (102’), and the home fans were briefly celebrating in the 115th minute when Jonathan Burkardt found the net, only to be flagged offside. 

After 120 hard-fought minutes in Frankfurt, the game went to penalties. All four Dortmund takers converted, while Dōan blazed over and Kobel denied Fares Chaibi to secure BVB a spot in the next round. 

Red card and penalty seal Wolfsburg’s fate

There was little to separate Wolfsburg and second-tier visitors Kiel in the early stages, with the underdogs even enjoying the better chances. Lasse Rosenboom (3’) went close, and a miscued defensive header from Maximilian Arnold nearly resulted in an own goal (12’). Wolfsburg's best effort came from Dzenan Pejcinovic, whose volley went just wide.

The game turned against the hosts just before half-time. Jenson Seelt received a second yellow for a professional foul (36’), and five minutes later Vinicius Souza brought down Adrian Kapralik in the box. Alexander Bernhardsson coolly converted the resulting penalty (42’).

Despite being a man down, Wolfsburg pressed hard after the break and thought they had equalised when Mohamed Amoura bundled home a free-kick – but the goal was chalked off for offside (63’). Defender Konstantinos Koulierakis then missed their best chance late on.

Glatzel fires HSV into round of 16

HSV made the livelier start away at Bundesliga side Heidenheim, with early chances falling to Miro Muheim (3’) and Ransford Königsdörffer (7’). Heidenheim were then reduced to ten men after Tim Siersleben was shown a straight red for bringing down Königsdörffer as the last man.

The hosts sat deep after the break, while HSV pushed forward and created chances mainly from set-pieces, as Luka Vušković (70’) and Fabio Vieira (75’) both went close. The breakthrough finally came from the spot after Julian Niehues fouled Vieira just inside the box. Former Heidenheim striker Robert Glatzel stepped up and made no mistake (83’).

Heidenheim mounted a late push for an equaliser but couldn’t find a way through. Head coach Frank Schmidt was shown a second yellow card deep in stoppage time (90+6).

Hertha ease past Elversberg

Elversberg started strongly at the Olympiastadion in Berlin and created several early chances. But it was Hertha who struck first through Michaël Cuisance (15’), having previously lost their last four meetings with the Saarland side.

The hosts pushed on after the break and doubled their lead with a smart set-piece routine, as Sebastian Grönning headed home unmarked at the back post (58’). Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson added a third from the penalty spot in stoppage time (90’+4), shortly before Elversberg’s Lukas Pinckert was sent off for a second yellow.