DFB Cup: Borussia Dortmund, Hertha BSC, Mainz, and Dรผsseldorf Secure Advancement
Berlin – The โคfirst roundโ of the 2023-24 DFB-Pokal โฃ(German Cup) concluded with aโค series of compelling matches, showcasing both upsets and expected victories. Borussia Dortmund, Hertha BSC, FSV Mainz 05, and Fortuna Dรผsseldorf all progressed to โthe next stage of the tournament, while several regional clubs mounted spirited challenges. The DFB-Pokal, known for its unpredictable โขnature, once again delivered drama and excitement for football fans acrossโ Germany.
Borussia Dortmund Edges Past Rot-Weiร Essen
Borussia Dortmund secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against third-divisionโฃ side Rot-Weiร Essen on Tuesday evening.The โdecisive goal came in the 79th minute from Serhou guirassy, who expertly placed his shot into the far corner.
Did โYou โKnow?
The DFB-Pokal offers a direct route to โคthe UEFA Europa League for the winner, adding significant stakes to each match.
Despite fielding a lineup without Jobe Bellingham andโข Julian Brandt,Dortmund gradually gained control โขof the match. Early โattempts from Marcel Sabitzer and Felix Nmecha tested Essen goalkeeper Jakob Golz, but failed to break the deadlock. Essen proved to be a resilient opponent,with Ramien โขSafi causing problems for the Dortmund defense. Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was forcedโฃ to make a crucial save in the 41st minute to maintain the scoreless tie.
Both teamsโ observedโข a moment ofโข silence before kickoff to honor the memoryโ of former football World Champion Frank Mill, who had played for both Rot-Weiร Essen and Borussia Dortmund during his career.
Herthaโ BSC Prevails in Penalty Shootout โAgainst Prussia Mรผnster
Hertha BSC advancedโค after a tense โขpenalty shootout against Prussia Mรผnster, following a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes of play.Hertha ultimately wonโฃ the shootout 5-3, with Sebastian Grรถnning โconverting theโข winning penalty.โฃ Mรผnster’s babisโ Macridis missed his attempt,proving costlyโค for the hosts.
Mรผnster’sโฃ goalkeeper, Tjark Ernst, a recent Under-21โฃ European โChampionship Vice-Champion, repeatedlyโข thwarted Hertha’sโข attacks during regulation time and extra time. โDawid Kownacki had a late chance to score, but was denied by Johannes Schenk in the Mรผnster goal.
mainz 05 Triumphs Over โคDynamo dresden
Bundesliga club โฃFSV Mainz 05 defeatedโ second-divisionโ side Dynamo Dresden 1-0.โฃ National โteam player Nadiem Amiri scored theโ lone goalโ in the 22nd minute with a well-placed free kick. Dynamo Dresden’s โฃJakob Lemmer was โdenied by Mainz goalkeeper Robin Zentner in the 65th minute.
Mainz’s preparations for their โฃupcoming Conference league playoff match against Rosenborg โTrondheim were complicated by a dispute โคwith the DFB regarding the scheduling of the cup game. Sports director Christian Heidel criticized the DFB’sโข decision-making process, calling it โฃa “farce.”
Fortuna Dรผsseldorf Overcomes 1. FC schweinfurt 05
Fortuna Dรผsseldorf secured a 4-2 victory over 1. FC schweinfurt 05, marking their first competitive match of the season. after falling behind to a Manuel Wintzheimer penalty in the 44th minute, Dรผsseldorf responded withโ goalsโ from Shinta Appelkamp (66th), Cedricโ Itten (68th), and Florent Muslija (72nd). Appelkamp added โคaโ second โคgoal in the 83rd minute to seal the win,โฃ despite a late โgoal fromโ Erik Shuranov for schweinfurt.
Pro Tip:
The DFB-Pokal frequently enough provides a platform for lower-league teams toโค showcase their talent and potentially upset established Bundesligaโฃ clubs.
DFB Cup First Round Results atโ a Glance
| match | Score |
|---|---|
| Rot-Weiร Essen vs. Borussia Dortmund | 0-1 |
| Prussia Mรผnster vs. Hertha BSC | 3-5 (after penalties) |
| Dynamo Dresden vs.โข 1. FSV Mainz 05 | 0-1 |
| 1. FC Schweinfurt โ05 vs. Fortuna Dรผsseldorf | 2-4 |
These results markโ theโ conclusion of the first round of the DFB-Pokal, โsetting the stage for anโ exciting second round. Will any more underdog stories emergeโค as the competition progresses?
The DFB-Pokal has a rich history datingโ back to โค1935, evolving from a regional competition to a national tournament. โฃIt’s known for its dramatic upsets and โthe opportunityโ for lower-league โteams to compete against Bundesliga giants. The tournament’s format has undergone several changes over the years, but its coreโ principle of providing a platform for all levels of Germanโ football remains constant. The competition consistentlyโ draws large televisionโ audiences andโค generates significant revenue for the DFB and participating clubs.
Frequently Asked Questions about the DFB-Pokal
- What is โthe DFB-Pokal? The DFB-Pokal is the German Cup competition, open to all member โขclubs โฃof the โฃGerman Football โAssociation.
- How does theโ DFB-Pokal work? It’s a knockoutโข tournament, meaning teams are eliminated after a single loss.
- Who is eligible to participate in the DFB-Pokal? All registered football clubs โin Germany are โeligible, from the Bundesliga down to amateur leagues.
- What is the prize for winning the DFB-Pokal? โค The winner โคreceives a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
- Is โขthe DFB-Pokal a popular competition? yes, it’s โa highly popular competition in Germany, known for its upsetsโ and exciting matches.