FSV Mainz 05 has made it into the second round of the DFB Cup with a narrow win against SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The Bundesliga club won the first game after the departure of top talent Brajan Gruda against the third division club 3-1 (1-1, 0-1) after extra time and just managed to avoid a surprise.
Wiesbaden took the lead through Tarik Gözüsirin (15th minute). The favorites equalized after the break with a goal from Dominik Kohr (59th). Mainz captain Jonathan Burkardt (113th) and Nadiem Amiri (120th+1) made the decision.
In the early stages, Mainz dominated the game in front of 12,500 spectators in the Wiesbaden Arena. After just a few seconds, attacker Armindo Sieb fired the first shot, which missed the Wiesbaden goal by a wide margin. A few minutes later, Japanese newcomer Kaishu Sano was thwarted by Wehen’s oncoming keeper Florian Stritzel (7th).
The underdog from Wiesbaden, on the other hand, struck with the first chance and turned the game on its head with a goal from Gözüsirin. Mainz were impressed by the goal they conceded. The guests lacked the creativity of Gruda, whose transfer to English club Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed on Wednesday.
Contested final phase
The first division club could even thank goalkeeper Robin Zentner for the fact that the score was only 0:1 at half time. The keeper made an outstanding save from a header by Wiesbaden striker Moritz Flotho in injury time.
After the break, coach Bo Henriksen’s team pushed for an equalizer. Wiesbaden defended cleverly at first – until Mainz defender Kohr forced a ball win and scored the 1:1 after a successful combination. Because neither team managed to score a second goal in a hard-fought final phase, the game went into extra time.
In this, substitute Stefan Bell from Mainz headed the ball onto the post after a corner (101′). Burkardt and Amiri then secured the late decision against a passionately fighting Wiesbaden team.
Despite a slapstick goal conceded, FC St. Pauli mastered its task in the first round of the DFB Cup with great effort. The Bundesliga newcomer won 3:2 (2:2, 0:1) after extra time against the stubborn regional league club Hallescher FC, but was not yet convincing against 1. FC Heidenheim a week before the start of the league.
Adam Dzwigala (90th+4) saved the favorites with his late equalizer and took them into extra time. There, Lars Ritzke (110th) decided the game for St. Pauli, Johannes Eggestein (48th) scored the 1:1 (48th). Cyrill Akono (11th) and Marius Hauptmann (63rd) scored for Halle.
The 14,000 spectators in Halle were unable to see any class difference during the game – on the contrary: Halle defended skillfully, repeatedly provided relief and allowed the guests few chances. Even if it was not enough for a major coup in the end.
Hoffenheim avoids elimination
TSG Hoffenheim struggled to avoid being knocked out in the first round of the DFB Cup, winning the penalty shootout against regional league club Würzburger Kickers. The favorite won 5:3 on penalties, after 120 minutes the score was 2:2 (1:1). TSG equalized two deficits, showed better nerves from the penalty spot and avoided the first first round exit in nine years.
Enes Küc (11th) gave the underdogs the lead, an own goal by Kickers defender Ebrahim Farahnak (18th) ensured the score at half-time. The second deficit by Moritz Hannemann (100th) was equalized by Marius Bülter (107th). Julian Justvan scored the decisive goal in the penalty shootout.
