Big chance for HSV: The Hamburg team is one round ahead in the DFB Cup. In the game against SC Freiburg, the Hanseatic League can end a negative series and make history.
Hamburger SV has the great opportunity to finally end the semi-final curse in the DFB Cup competition that has lasted for almost 35 years. In the semi-finals, the Hanseatic second division team meets Bundesliga club SC Freiburg.
The draw made by two-man bobsleigh Olympic champion Laura Nolte (23) on Sunday evening in the Football Museum of the German Football Association (DFB) in Dortmund also resulted in the duel between the first division side RB Leipzig and FC St. Pauli-Bezwinger 1. FC Union Berlin. Match dates are April 19th and 20th, the DFB Cup final will take place on May 21st in the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Last semi-final win 35 years ago
For the three-time DFB Cup winner HSV, reaching the final would end a long negative series. Most recently, the former Bundesliga Dino was successful in the semifinals of the cup on March 31, 1987. Manfred Kastl’s goal in the 85th minute ensured the 1-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach at home in the Volksparkstadion.
In the final, HSV, then coached by star coach Ernst Happel, beat outsiders Stuttgarter Kickers 3-1. It was the last significant trophy that the traditional Hanseatic club won.
HSV is looking forward to the home game
Since then, Hamburg have made it to the semi-finals four times in the DFB Cup competition – and each time they came up short. 1988 at VfL Bochum (0:2), 1997 at VfB Stuttgart (1:2), 2009 against Werder Bremen (1:3 on penalties) and most recently in 2019 against RB Leipzig (1:3). In the fifth attempt, it should now work again with the participation in the final.
“Nothing is impossible in the cup, especially in front of our own fans. We’re looking forward to our home game,” said former HSV professional Bernd Wehmeyer (69), who again represented the club in the draw. The opponents from Freiburg, with coach Christian Streich on the bench, had reached the semi-finals of the cup by beating Bundesliga rivals VfL Bochum 2-1 after extra time.
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