News (engl.)

Four more teams secured their place in the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Monday evening. Fortuna Düsseldorf came from behind to win 4-2 away at 1. FC Schweinfurt, while Bundesliga side 1. FSV Mainz 05 edged out Dynamo Dresden in a tightly contested 1-0 victory. In the only all-2. Bundesliga clash of the round, Hertha BSC triumphed 5-3 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes against Preußen Münster. In Monday's late kick-off, Serhou Guirassy's goal clinched a narrow win for Borussia Dortmund against Rot-Weiss Essen. 

Fortuna turn it around in Schweinfurt

Fortuna Düsseldorf struggled to get into the game early on, with hosts Schweinfurt threatening on the counter. Tim Oberdorf went close from a set piece (19’), but it was Schweinfurt who struck first – Manuel Wintzheimer converted a penalty shortly before the break (44’), giving the underdogs a half-time lead against the run of play.

Düsseldorf responded with intensity after the restart. Shinta Appelkamp equalised with a composed finish (66’), before Cedric Itten pounced on a rebound just moments later to make it 2-1 (68’). Florent Muslija added a third for Fortuna five minutes later (73’). Schweinfurt hit back through Shuranov (83’), but Appelkamp’s second goal of the night (86’) put the result beyond doubt.

Amiri free kick sends Mainz through

Mainz 05 were put under pressure early on in Dresden, with Nils Fröling testing Robin Zentner twice in the opening five minutes. The Bundesliga side gradually settled, and took the lead through Nadiem Amiri’s superb free kick from 25 yards (23’). Mainz grew stronger as the half wore on but were unable to extend their lead before the break.

The visitors continued to push forward after the restart, but Dresden had a golden opportunity to level – Jakob Lemmer’s penalty was saved by Zentner (66’). The match remained open and fiercely contested, with both teams showing full commitment. Mainz held firm and saw out the win, despite a late red card for head coach Bo Henriksen (87’).

Hertha hold nerve in shootout

Preußen Münster had the better of the early chances in their meeting with Hertha BSC, most notably through Marvin Schulz, whose 11th-minute shot was well saved by Tjark Ernst. The hosts pushed forward with increasing confidence and carved out several openings, but the first half ended goalless.

Münster stayed on top after the restart and thought they’d taken the lead through Amenyido (58’), only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. Hertha struggled to create clear chances, but gradually grew into the game in extra time. With nothing to separate the sides after 120 minutes, the tie went to penalties – Sebastian Grönning converted the decisive spot-kick as Hertha won the shootout 5-3.

Guirassy sends Dortmund through 

Borussia Dortmund started strongly, managing to generate several chances on goal in the opening quarter of an hour in Essen. The hosts were also able to set accents of their own, notably in the 32nd minute when goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was forced to parry a well-struck effort from Kaito Mizuta. Just before the break, Essen’s Ramien Safi found himself through on goal with only Kobel to beat, but was denied by the shot-stopper. 

The second half saw BVB continue to assert themselves, with Essen defending deep and waiting for opportunities to counter. The deadlock was finally broken in the 79th minute, as Serhou Guirassy netted a sublime finish on the turn from 20 metres out. The visitors were able to hold onto their lead in order to book their place in the next round, despite facing a flurry of efforts from the hosts in the closing stages.