Berlin is getting closer and closer for HSV after the treble on penalties: Hamburger SV is in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup after a wild race to catch up and can dream more than ever of their first major title in 35 years. Thanks to goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes, coach Tim Walter’s team won 3-2 on penalties against Karlsruher SC on Wednesday.
After extra time it was 2: 2 (2: 2, 0: 1) in the thrilling cup thriller between the two second division teams. Heuer Fernandes then made a decisive save against Marvin Wanitzek and Ricardo van Rhijn, and Daniel O’Shaughnessy also failed. “What we delivered over 120 minutes today is outstanding,” said the goalkeeper and said of his performance: “There is also a bit of skill involved.”
HSV had advanced on penalties in the two previous rounds. Double packer Robert Glatzel (52./90.+1) had equalized the 2-0 lead of KSC through Philip Heise (40.) and Philipp Hofmann (50.) and saved HSV into extra time. In the end, the brave guests perhaps lacked a bit of strength because the Badeners had to act outnumbered for a long time after Christoph Kobald (72nd) received a yellow-red card. “You can only buy something from if you progress,” said the strong KSC goalkeeper Marius Gersbeck on Sky. “The end is very bitter.”
For the first time since 2019, HSV made it into the semi-finals of the DFB Cup, which the Rothosen last won in 1987. This year, the chance of triumph in Berlin is greater than it has been for years, as the heavyweights Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were eliminated in the previous rounds.
“It will be anything but a sure-fire success,” said HSV sports director Jonas Boldt before the game – and he was right. Hamburg played aggressively forward, but inaccuracies or the well-organized KSC defense initially prevented the really big chances. Although HSV had more of the game overall, the guests were getting better and better at adjusting to the combinations – and for their part became bolder as the game went on, they sensed their chance. The lead by Heise after a nice free kick was anything but undeserved.
It got really wild after the restart. First Hofmann raised for Karlsruhe, Glatzel answered only seconds later with his head. Of course, HSV then pushed forward with all their might, Sonny Kittel and the fast Bakery Jatta were always wanted – but Kittel missed a controversial penalty after video evidence (72nd).
The Karlsruhe defended in front of 25,000 spectators in the Volkspark with everything they had – and then Glatzel got his toe on a cross from Jatta. The extension remained goalless, the decision was made on the spot.
Freiburg wins in the 120th minute
In the Bundesliga on course for the Champions League, in the cup only one step away from the final in Berlin: In his eleventh year as head coach of SC Freiburg, Christian Streich is heading for his biggest coup. The fifth-placed team won the quarter-finals 2-1 (0-0) after extra time at newly promoted VfL Bochum and made it into the last four for only the second time in the club’s history. Roland Sallai (120th) scored decisively in the last minute after a mistake by Maxim Leitsch, who missed a return leg to his own goalkeeper, and shot Freiburg into the semifinals. In the regular season, ex-national player Nils Petersen (51st) had already taken the lead for the sports club, which has only lost one of its last seven competitive games. Substitute Sebastian Polter (64th) equalized.
Roland Sallai scores the second goal.
(Photo: Thilo Schmuelgen / Reuters)
In front of 10,000 spectators Bochum, who had returned from the Bundesliga, had their dream of a second cup final after 1988 shattered: After victories against FC Augsburg and FSV Mainz 05, it was over against the third Bundesliga side. “We want to take the opportunity and continue to write history,” said VfL coach Thomas Reis before kick-off on Sky. When Bochum last reached the semi-finals, the coach was still a youth player in his birthplace, Wertheim. Streich, on the other hand, had already reached the last four with SC – in his first full season as head coach in 2012/13. And already won the DFB Cup three times – with the Freiburg A-Juniors.
The two coaches saw a lively start in which the hosts had the first big chance: Gerrit Holtmann missed the goal with a header (5th). At first, Freiburg couldn’t cope with the aggressiveness of Bochum and could hardly show off their class. VfL only threatened Freiburg keeper Mark Flekken’s goal before the break with a shot from Holtmann (45′). The guests also got through once: After a mistake by Armel Bella Kotchap, Petersen shot too early and was not placed (38′). In stoppage time, Bochum was lucky that Winter signing Jürgen Locadia didn’t see a red card after assaulting Philipp Lienhart (45’+1′).
After the change of sides, Freiburg was better in the game. Bochum’s goalkeeper Manuel Riemann was able to parry a shot from the strong Kevin Schade, but right in front of Petersen’s feet, who gave the visitors the lead. Polter headed in an exemplary Elvis Rexhbecaj cross to equalize. In extra time everything pointed to penalties when Sallai capitalized on a mistake by Maxim Leitsch.
