News (engl.)

3. Liga side Viktoria Köln and fifth-tier outfit FV Engers were unable to spring surprises in the first round of the DFB-Pokal. Viktoria lost 3-1 at home to second-division SC Paderborn 07, while Engers – despite a spirited display – went down 5-0 against five-time cup winners Eintracht Frankfurt.

Paderborn land early double blow

SC Paderborn laid the foundation for their win with a quickfire start at the Sportpark Höhenberg. Adriano Grimaldi struck twice in the space of three minutes (5’, 8’) to put the visitors in control, before Filip Bilbija added a third from the penalty spot (36’).

Viktoria responded after the break, pulling one back through David Otto (59’) and seeing more of the ball as they chased another. The hosts created a number of half-chances, but lacked the cutting edge needed to turn the game around.

Engers push Frankfurt before late flurry

FV Engers put up a determined fight against Eintracht Frankfurt at the Stadion Oberwerth in Koblenz, with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf watching on. The Oberliga side battled for every ball and held their own for much of the first half. However, the breakthrough came just before the interval, with Jean Bahoya (44’) and new signing Ritsu Doan (45’) making it 2-0 to Frankfurt.

The Rheinland-Pokal winners began to tire after the restart, and Doan added his second to make it 3-0 (54’). Frankfurt then eased off but added further goals late on – Elye Wahi (89’) and Paxten Aaronson (90’+1) rounded off the scoring.