Walk to the DFB Cup final
Furious Leverkusen dispatches Fortuna and is in the final
April 3, 2024, 10:35 p.m
Bayer Leverkusen decided the game after just 35 minutes: In the semi-finals of the DFB Cup against second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf, the brilliant Werkself clearly won 4-0. This means that the Bundesliga leaders will face 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the final in Berlin – and the triple dream is alive.
Led by Florian Wirtz, the high-flyers from Bayer Leverkusen stormed into the DFB Cup final and took another giant step closer to a historic triple season. In the 4-0 (3-0) semi-final, coach Xabi Alonso’s overpowering team fulfilled their duty in the Rhenish duel with the overwhelmed second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf and seems to be unstoppable on the way to their second cup triumph since 1993.
Young star Wirtz shone once again with two goals (35th/60th, hand penalty) and an assist. Jeremie Frimpong (7th) and Amine Adli (20th) also scored for the undisputed Bundesliga leaders, who reached the final for the fifth time in the club’s history. The factory club also extended its incredible winning streak to 40 games without defeat – and will go into the duel with second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on May 25th as heavy favorites.
“It’s just fun to celebrate with the fans, to look at everyone’s happy faces,” said double goalscorer Wirtz. Leverkusen’s recipe for success? “We approach every game in such a way that we want to win it. That remains the case,” said the young national player. The Düsseldorfers, who had no chance, also had to acknowledge this. “We knew it would be difficult,” said goalkeeper Florian Kastenmaier, but also criticized our own shortcomings: “We had a wild line-up at times. What we had planned didn’t work at all,” he complained. “With 3-0, the whole thing was over.”
In advance, those responsible at Bayer had repeatedly warned about the enormous height of the fall. Sports director Simon Rolfes emphasized that “no one should believe that we are already in the final,” and Alonso, who had already won the cup as a player with FC Bayern in 2016, spoke of “a great challenge.”
Leverkusen’s “storm” doesn’t let up
But four days after another last-minute madness against TSG Hoffenheim (2-1), the Werkself in no way gave the impression that they were taking their lower-class opponents lightly. As expected, Alonso’s team started dominantly after dispelling almost all remaining doubts about winning the championship on the last matchday.
Leverkusen trapped the underdog in front of the penalty area – and were rewarded early on when Frimpong shot in from close range to take the lead. Fortuna’s pressing came to nothing, and after a counterattack, Adli increased after Wirtz’s assist.
Fortuna and its coach Daniel Thioune had to shake themselves up. Sports director Klaus Allofs emphasized that Düsseldorf is by no means “as small as some people believe”. Even singer Campino from the Toten Hosen was in the stands celebrating the game, which was so special for the club and the city.
With the goal to make it 3-0, Wirtz already fueled the anticipation of Bayer supporters for the first final since the defeat against Bayern Munich (2:4) in 2020. Düsseldorf only ensured through Andre Hoffmann (45th) and Christos Tzolis ( 54.) for danger, cup goalkeeper Matej Kovar saved both times.
The Leverkusen “storm”, as Allofs described the Werkself’s performance on Sky at half-time, did not let up after Wirtz enhanced his performance with a hand penalty. Patrick Schick had previously headed the ball onto Matthias Zimmerman’s arm. Bayer attacker Victor Boniface celebrated his comeback in the 65th minute after a three-month injury break.