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Glasner leaves SGE beaten
Nkunku leads RB Leipzig to another DFB Cup victory
6/3/2023 9:56 p.m
For a long time, the DFB Cup final between defending champions RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt took place in the stands. There it burns. It’s tough on the pitch, then Bundesliga top scorer Christopher Nkunku does magic. The Frenchman becomes a hero in what will probably be his last game for RB.
At 10:17 p.m., captain Willi Orban lifted the DFB Cup, next to him Christopher Nkunku shouted his joy at this next title with RB Leipzig – and the fans of Eintracht Frankfurt whistled down the celebrations in the Berlin Olympic Stadium mercilessly. The Saxons didn’t care, RB celebrated this small piece of tradition in the club’s young history: After the 2-0 (0-0) win over Eintracht, Leipzig is the DFB Cup winner for the second time in a row.
Leipzig: Blaswich – Henrichs, Klostermann, Orban, Halstenberg – Laimer, Haidara (78th Schlager) – Szoboszlai (90th + 1 Kampl), Olmo – Nkunku, Timo Werner (61st Poulsen). – Coach: Rose
Frankfurt: Trapp – Tuta, Hasebe (78th Borre), Ndicka – Buta (86th Dina Ebimbe), Rode (70th Lindstrom), Sow, Max (78th Lenz) – Kamada, Mario Götze – Kolo Muani. – Trainer: Glasner
Referee: Daniel Siebert (Berlin)
Gates: 1-0 Nkunku (71′), 2-0 Szoboszlai (85′)
Viewers: 74,322 (sold out)
“We were that little bit better, it wasn’t a thrilling final,” admitted RB sports director Max Eberl, “but the tension was there the whole time. In the end, I don’t give a shit, the main thing is that we won it.” He was “a bit overwhelmed”.
“Anyone who wins something like this must also be able to celebrate, and we will do that,” announced Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer, who is now likely to join Bayern. And the man of the day will probably leave RB too: Nkunku scored the lead with a heavily deflected shot (71st). In the closing stages he also made it 2-0 through Dominik Szoboszlai (85′). Now there is a move to Chelsea in the room, it was probably his last appearance for Leipzig. “It could be,” said Eberl after the game.
So it was nothing with the dreamy last act for Oliver Glasner’s glorious history as Frankfurt coach. “We were on an equal footing with Leipzig and that’s an honor,” said the Austrian on ZDF. After two years, a sensational Europa League victory in 2022 and recent atmospheric tensions, he will leave the club as announced. He looks back on a “wonderful, fantastic time”.
Eintracht has the fans, Leipzig the title
Eintracht, who last won the cup in 2018, has to wait for their sixth title and will compete in the Conference League next season due to the defeat. Frankfurt had finished the Bundesliga season in seventh place, but would have qualified for the Europa League if they had won the cup. Bayer Leverkusen are now moving there because Leipzig, third in the Bundesliga, has qualified for the Champions League.
The loud chants of the Frankfurt supporters did not upset Leipzig at the beginning of the game, the favorites could have taken the lead early on in front of 74,322 spectators. After Frankfurt lost the ball, Szoboszlai dribbled his way through the ranks and found Timo Werner (4th) with a quick pass. Completely free, however, his conclusion resembled a better return for Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.
While RB could hardly think of anything offensive after the Werner chance, Eintracht had more of the game in this phase – and yet they seemed dependent on Randal Kolo Muani. When the Frenchman (15 Bundesliga goals) invited the Leipzig defense to dance, it became dangerous. This was also the case when the 24-year-old stormed into the penalty area after a mistake by Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann and shot at the side netting (16′).
Nkunku with big show
Frankfurt is defeated.
(Photo: IMAGO/Jan Huebner)
Glasner, who had announced that he wanted to “enjoy” his last evening as Eintracht coach, seemed glued to the edge of his coaching zone during this phase. The Austrian repeatedly corrected his players with gestures, cheered them on and suffered when something didn’t work out. And he almost should have been annoyed about the deficit. Laimer found Nkunku (42nd) out of nowhere, but his shot was deflected decisively. Corner instead of 1:0.
After the break it only got really hot in the stands. The Frankfurt fans – and also some Leipzig fans – lit smoke pots, firecrackers and bengalos, the Olympic Stadium was shrouded in thick fog. However, there was not much to miss on the pitch, the defenses dominated until Mario Götze had an idea on his 31st birthday. After dropping Kolo Muani, the 2014 world champion volleyed, RB goalkeeper Janis Blaswich parried (64th).
Ultimately, it took Nkunku’s individual performance to score. His lucky shot after great dribbling was deflected several times before Trapp could only watch as the ball flew into the net. A little later he cleared Szoboszlai in the penalty area.