Moist eyes after cup defeat
Unlucky writer inconsolable after goalkeeping mistake
April 3, 2024, 5:18 a.m
What a bitter mistake in the biggest game of his career: Saarbrücken’s goalkeeper Tim Schreiber lets the ball slip through to make it 0-1 against FCK – and is then heartbroken. With moist eyes, he apologizes to his team. Lautern coach Funkel is happy about a special match plan.
Tim Schreiber was heartbroken. His major mistake in the semi-finals of the DFB Cup was a mystery to the goalkeeper of third division soccer team 1. FC Saarbrücken. “In training you think ten balls out of ten. You can’t explain that,” said Schreiber with moist eyes on ARD after the 0-2 (0-0) draw against second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
His mistake was the beginning of the end of the Saarbrücken cup fairytale. Schreiber let a harmless header from Marlon Ritter slip through his hands and legs to give the guests the lead (53′). Saarbrücken still fought back, but nothing was going to happen in front of the FCK goal. “That decided the game. You just want to sink into the ground afterwards,” said Schreiber and apologized to his teammates who had comforted him after the final whistle: “Personally, I’m sorry that it ended like this because of my mistake .”
Funkel celebrates the match plan
Kaiserslautern’s coach Friedhelm Funkel defended the unfortunate. “The ball didn’t come up anymore,” said Funkel. Meanwhile, the oldie coach saw his match plan confirmed after reaching the cup final. “We weren’t allowed to let ourselves be countered. That’s how Bayern Munich failed here, that’s how Borussia Mönchengladbach failed here,” said Funkel on ARD after the 2-0 (0-0) semi-final win against third division soccer team 1. FC Saarbrücken.
Funkel chose a cautious approach against the host’s defensive bulwark. “The first half wasn’t good. The opponent has nine men in front of their own penalty area. We don’t have the playful resources. Otherwise we wouldn’t be 16th in the table in the second league,” said Funkel.
In the final on May 25th in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium, Kaiserslautern will face the unbeaten Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen or the second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf.