Semi-final spectacle in the DFB Cup: Werder conceded Leipzig knockout goals in minute 121

Friday April 30th 2021

Semi-final spectacle in the DFB Cup
Werder conceded a Leipzig knockout goal in minute 121

In the regular season, Leipzig only hits the post and the crossbar. In extra time, the favorite quickly took the lead at Werder Bremen, but made a fatal mistake. When everyone was expecting a penalty shoot-out, the Saxon joker stabs ice cold.

Julian Nagelsmann can continue to dream of a title to bid farewell to RB Leipzig after a dramatic cup fight. The Saxons won the semi-final thriller with 2: 1 (0: 0, 0: 0) after extra time at the much improved six-time cup winner Werder Bremen and moved into the finals in Berlin for the second time since 2019. Despite the defeat, Florian Kohfeldt should continue to work on the Weser after the committed performance of his team. For the 38-year-old, the difficult duel was called for the final for his job after seven league defeats in a row.

“That’s fantastic. We didn’t think it would be so exciting. It was a battle of wear and tear,” said managing director Oliver Mintzlaff on ARD. The hits of the jokers Hee-Chan Hwang (93rd) and Emil Forsberg (120th + 1) gave the favorite the acclaimed success. Determine the opponent for the final on May 13th in the Olympic Stadium on Saturday (8.30 p.m. / ARD, Sky and in the live ticker at ntv.de) Runner-up Borussia Dortmund and second division Holstein Kiel. Leonardo Bittencourt (105th + 1) had equalized in the meantime.

Before the game, both clubs were turbulent. Leipzig announced the departure of Nagelsmann for a record transfer to Bayern Munich for the new season and signed Jesse Marsch (RB Salzburg) as his successor. At Werder, in a much-discussed decision from managing director Frank Baumann, Kohfeldt only got the trust for the cup cracker after hesitation.

With the kick-off in the Weserstadion, only the chance of the final counted. Werder, for the 23rd time in the round of the last four, was careful not to fall behind as early as in the 1: 4 in the Bundesliga duel three weeks ago and relied on a lot of physicality. The project worked out in the first round.

Lots of opportunities, no return

Leipzig hardly succeeded in converting the gambling assets into opportunities. A dangerous header from Alexander Sörloth, heavily parried by Jiri Pavlenka, was the exception (4th). But then Werder’s American Josh Sargent had the big chance to lead in the 29th minute. After a long ball, the 21-year-old prevailed strongly against Dayot Upamecano, but shot the ball past the goal without being pushed. Lucky for RB.

Werder was now in and was awarded a penalty by referee Manuel Grafe shortly before half-time, which he withdrew, however, according to the television images. Davie Selke was actively involved in a duel with Nordi Mukiele. With the tricky but correct decision, it went into the break.

Leipzig came out of the dressing room stronger and increased the intensity and speed of the combinations. The Bremer braced against it, but RB became more compelling. After a corner defender Willi Orban headed the crossbar, then Werders saved Jean-Manuel Mbom with great effort (66th). As the final phase began, the duel developed into a gripping cup fight in which both teams hoped for the lucky punch. Substitute Christopher Nkunku only hit the post for Leipzig (78th), and Joker Yussuf Poulsen awarded twice in stoppage time.

Kohfeldt made his team loudly hot again during the break for extra time, but then the favorite struck ice cold. After a mistake by Upamecano Werder equalized, Forsberg set the end point for Leipzig after preparatory work by Hwang.