While the Gladbachers squandered the great opportunity to at least achieve something in the cup in a previously weak season, the Lower Saxony made it into the quarter-finals for the first time in 15 years. The goals for the Hanoverians, who won the cup as a second division team in 1992 – in the final against Gladbach – were scored by Maximilian Beier (4th, 51st) and Sebastian Kerk (36th/penalty).
After just under four minutes, the Hütter team was taken by surprise. After a precise pass from Hendrik Weydandt, Beier was completely free halfway to the right in the penalty area and shot sharply past goalie Yann Sommer into the Gladbach goal. After that, Hannover acted in a disciplined and committed manner. The guests also made it easy for the second division club to be the better team with an uninspired and listless appearance.
Hanover increases after video evidence
Marvin Friedrich, who was brought in from Union Berlin in the winter, involuntarily paved the way for Hannover to make it 2-0. After video evidence, referee Florian Badstübner punished a handball by the defender with a penalty, which Kerk converted. Friedrich had already caused a penalty kick against Leverkusen, but Sommer was able to parry it. This time the Swiss was also on the ball, but couldn’t prevent the goal.
After the break, the picture remained the same: the Gladbacher sluggish, the hosts engaged. And the second division team used that consistently. Beier again countered with a technically fine shot from the outside of the foot to make it 3-0. In the 62nd minute, the midfielder hit the post again. The few chances for Mönchengladbach, including Denis Zakaria and Florian Neuhaus, were thwarted by Hanover’s keeper Ron-Robert Zieler.
Laimer makes a comeback in Leipzig victory
RB Leipzig is also in the quarter-finals after a 2-0 home win over second-rate Hansa Rostock. The goals were scored by Yussuf Poulsen (6th) and Dani Olmo (82nd), Konrad Laimer celebrated a comeback from the 74th minute after recovering from an ankle injury. The approximately 1,000 fans in Leipzig who were admitted did not have to wait long for the first goal. Lukas Klostermann crossed from the right to the long corner. Poulsen was completely free there and headed in without any problems.
It should remain one of the few good scenes of the first half. Leipzig completely slowed down, Hansa was primarily busy with defensive work. A little more momentum came into play after the break. Klostermann (47′) fired a shot from 20 meters just wide of the goal and Hansa sent two signs of life. First, Streli Mamba (49′) hit the side netting after a counterattack, then a shot from Nico Neidhardt (51′) went just wide of the far corner. The game then slowed down again. The game was finally over when Olmo scored to make it 2-0 with a dry shot after a pass from Nkunku.
After the defeat of champions Bayern and cup defenders Borussia Dortmund, winning the cup this year seems as easy as it is rare. Hannover are the next second division side to reach the last eight after Karlsruher SC, Hamburger SV and FC St. Pauli.
