Freiburg makes favorites tremble
Eintracht women save themselves from the cup thriller
February 8, 2024, 9:42 p.m
Eintracht Frankfurt lives up to its role as favorite in the round of 16 of the DFB Women’s Cup. But instead of confidently taking the lead to the finish, the Hessians have to tremble a lot in the end. Because last year’s finalist Freiburg found their way back into the game very late – and then had bad luck.
The Eintracht Frankfurt footballers reached the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup with a victory. Coach Niko Arnautis’ team won against Bundesliga rivals SC Freiburg 2-1 (2-0), but had to tremble towards the end. Freiburg lost the cup final in Cologne against VfL Wolfsburg last year. The Frankfurt women showed some weaknesses before the Bundesliga top game on Sunday in Wolfsburg.
Shekiera Martinez (25th) and Verena Hanshaw (52nd) put the league third in the lead, while national player Nicole Anyomi was in the best position twice in the final phase to make the final decision (84th, 86th). Freiburg’s Samantha Steuerwald (88th) ensured an exciting final phase with her header. Hanshaw’s goal caused discussion because teammate Geraldine Reuteler was offside, which was probably punishable but not penalized. Freiburg also scored the supposed equalizer in added time – but the ball had already crossed the goal line.
The cup quarter-finals are now almost complete, despite some delay. On Wednesday (7 p.m.) champions Bayern Munich will play the last round of 16 against regional league team Kickers Offenbach; the remaining six games had already taken place in November. The appearances of the Champions League participants Frankfurt and Munich were initially postponed to January due to scheduling constraints, but then due to weather they had to be postponed again to February. Eintracht Frankfurt will face MSV Duisburg in the quarter-finals.