News (engl.)

Sunday afternoon in the DFB-Pokal first round delivered a mix of drama and emphatic victories. 1. FC Köln needed two stoppage-time goals to avoid an early exit against third-tier Jahn Regensburg, while Borussia Mönchengladbach were made to work hard in a narrow win over Oberligist SV Atlas Delmenhorst. FC Schalke 04 were also forced into extra time by 1. Lokomotive Leipzig, although ultimately prevailed 1-0. Elsewhere, 2. Bundesliga sides enjoyed more straightforward outings – SpVgg Greuther Fürth saw off Blau-Weiß Lohne, while Kaiserslautern and Karlsruhe recorded clear wins over lower-league opposition.

Effzeh turn it around at the death

1. FC Köln came within seconds of a shock exit at the hands of third-division SSV Jahn Regensburg. Despite dominating possession at the Jahnstadion, Lukas Kwasniok’s side failed to create clear chances and fell behind to a brilliant curling strike from Benedikt Bauer (66’).

However, the Bundesliga side came storming back in added time. Eric Martel levelled with a fierce volley (90’+6), before summer signing Isak Bergmann Johannesson turned the game on its head just two minutes later (90’+8), sparking wild celebrations among the travelling fans.

Delmenhorst push Gladbach all the way

Borussia Mönchengladbach were thoroughly tested by fifth-tier SV Atlas Delmenhorst, who limited the Bundesliga side into a tense 3-2 win in front of 15,200 fans at a sold-out Marschweg-Stadion in Oldenburg. Robin Hack twice gave Gladbach the lead (20’, 38’), but the underdogs hit back both times – first through Steffen Rohwedder (32’) and then from a stunning Linus Urban strike (40’).

It took a third goal midway through the second half from Nico Elvedi (68’) to finally restore Gladbach’s advantage for good. Delmenhorst continued to battle bravely but couldn’t find a way back for a third time.

Schalke and Lok Leipzig go the distance

FC Schalke 04 were made to work hard in their first-round tie away to fourth-tier 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig. Both sides created chances in an open first half – Moussa Sylla went close twice for the visitors (19’, 26’), while Justin Heekeren produced strong saves to deny Ayodele Adetula (36’) and Alexander Siebeck (41’). Sylla forced another stop after the break (57’) and hit the bar in the 82nd minute, before Leipzig threatened through Djamal Ziane at the death (90’).

With the scores deadlocked at 0-0, the match went to extra time. The 2. Bundesliga side pushed on in the added period, and Lasme was twice denied – once by Andreas Naumann (101’), once by the post (105’) – before finally finding the net in the 107th minute to send Schalke through.

Fürth break Lohne resistance

SpVgg Greuther Fürth dominated the first half against Blau-Weiß Lohne at the Heinz-Dettmer-Stadion, but struggled to break down the disciplined Regionalliga hosts. The breakthrough finally came in the 58th minute, when a deflected shot fell kindly to Mathias Olesen, who slotted home from close range.

Lohne’s hopes of a comeback faded late on. New signing Johannes Sabah was sent off after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession (83’), and Fürth took full advantage – Noah König added a second goal less than a minute later to seal a deserved 2-0 victory.

Kaiserslautern cruise past RSV Eintracht

1. FC Kaiserslautern made light work of Oberligist RSV Eintracht 1949, wrapping up the win before half time at the Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion in Babelsberg. Fabian Kunze (11’), Mahir Emreli (15’), Ji-Soo Kim (24’) and Daniel Hanslik (34’, header) gave the Red Devils a commanding 4-0 lead at the break.

The goals kept coming in the second half. Marlon Ritter (48’) added a fifth, before Tobias Raschl capitalised on an error from home keeper Liam Brenn to make it six. Richmond Tachie rounded off the scoring in the 90th minute to complete a 7-0 rout.

Karlsruhe hit five in Meuselwitz

Karlsruher SC got off to a dream start in their first-round tie against Regionalliga side ZFC Meuselwitz. Fabian Schleusener headed home inside the opening minute, and Nicolai Rapp (11’) doubled the lead with a powerful strike from distance. Schleusener then grabbed his second of the afternoon (42’) to make it 3-0 before the break.

The visitors showed no signs of slowing down after half time. Lilian Egloff made it 4-0 (52’), and Christoph Kobald headed in from a corner just four minutes later (56’) to round off a convincing performance from the 2. Bundesliga outfit.