In the DFB Cup, 1. FC Union Berlin was eliminated by third-division Arminia Bielefeld, losing 2-0, while TSG Hoffenheim edged past 1. FC Nürnberg with a 2-1 victory to advance. Miroslav Klose’s Nuremberg, despite a recent strong league run, struggled against Hoffenheim’s narrow win. Meanwhile, Dynamo Dresden fought hard but fell to SV Darmstadt 98 after extra time, concluding a thrilling round of cup competition that showcased surprising outcomes and fierce matches.
In a surprising turn of events, 1. FC Union Berlin faced a disheartening defeat against Arminia Bielefeld in the DFB Cup, falling short of their usual league performance. Meanwhile, Miroslav Klose and his team from 1. FC Nürnberg nearly pulled off an upset, while Dynamo Dresden fought valiantly but ultimately succumbed to SV Darmstadt 98.
TSG Hoffenheim vs. 1. FC Nürnberg 2:1 (1:0)
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim ended 1. FC Nürnberg’s recent winning streak, securing a spot in the DFB Cup’s round of 16 with a hard-fought 2:1 victory. Hoffenheim’s dependence on their star players made the match intense. Haris Tabakovic opened the scoring in the 27th minute, but Mahir Emreli equalized shortly after halftime. A header from Arthur Chaves in the 72nd minute sealed the win for Hoffenheim.
Nürnberg, managed by the legendary Miroslav Klose, had enjoyed a string of three victories in Bundesliga 2 but struggled to find their footing against Hoffenheim, who are still aiming for consistency this season. The match ignited early tensions, with the visitors receiving more than 6,000 strong support.
Hoffenheim initially controlled the game, with Adam Hlozek testing FCN’s substitute goalkeeper Christian Mathenia. Although Hoffenheim took the lead from a corner kick mishap, Nürnberg remained resilient and equalized before falling victim to Chaves’ late winner.
Arminia Bielefeld vs. 1. FC Union Berlin 2:0 (1:0)
In a stunning upset, Arminia Bielefeld ousted 1. FC Union Berlin from the DFB Cup, delivering a 2:0 blow to the Bundesliga side. Playing in front of a packed crowd of 26,117 at the Alm, Bielefeld’s Marius Wörl found the net in the 12th minute, followed by André Becker’s goal in the 71st minute, securing a memorable victory for the underdogs.
Bielefeld exuded confidence from the start, and after Wörl’s spectacular long-range goal, Union struggled to regain composure. Despite some near-misses, including a shot that hit the crossbar from captain Rani Khedira, Union’s attempts were met with staunch Bielefeld defense.
When Becker made it 2:0, Union continued to fight but ultimately fell short. Their next challenge awaits as they prepare to face FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Dynamo Dresden vs. SV Darmstadt 98 2:3 (2:2, 0:0) n.V.
Dynamo Dresden’s hopes of a surprise victory faded as they were eliminated by second-division side Darmstadt 98 in an action-packed match that ended 3:2 after extra time. With a crowd of 30,070 witnessing the clash, Darmstadt took the lead through Aleksandar Vukotic’s header.
Dresden found their rhythm late in the match, equalizing twice, including a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer from Jakob Lemmer. However, Isac Lidberg’s goal in the 98th minute sent Darmstadt through, leaving Dresden disappointed despite their spirited effort.
The match was temporarily halted due to excessive smoke from pyrotechnics in the stands, adding to the dramatic atmosphere of this knockout encounter.