Post by : Maya Rahman

Borussia Dortmund reached the last 16 of the German Cup after a thrilling penalty shootout victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. The second-round clash ended 1-1 after extra time on Tuesday, with Dortmund keeping their composure to win 4-2 on penalties at Deutsche Bank Park.

Frankfurt took an early lead in the 7th minute through former Dortmund player Ansgar Knauff. The goal came after Mario Goetze, another ex-Dortmund star, split the visitors’ defense with a precise pass, allowing Knauff to calmly slot the ball past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. The early goal lifted the home crowd as Frankfurt looked determined to upset their Bundesliga rivals.

Dortmund responded quickly after halftime. Julian Brandt, one of their most reliable performers this season, found the equalizer in the 48th minute. Right-back Julian Ryerson sent in a perfect cross from the flank, and Brandt tapped home from close range to make it 1-1. The goal revived Dortmund’s rhythm and pushed Frankfurt on the defensive.

The match remained balanced through the rest of regular time, with both sides creating half-chances but failing to convert. In extra time, Frankfurt appeared to have regained the advantage when Germany striker Jonathan Burkardt scored in the 115th minute. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR check, leaving the teams level and headed for penalties.

In the penalty shootout, Dortmund were flawless. Fabio Silva, Niklas Suele, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Felix Nmecha all converted their spot-kicks. Frankfurt’s Can Uzun and Michy Batshuayi found the net, but Ritsu Doan blasted his effort over the bar, and Fares Chaibi’s attempt was saved by Kobel. The 4-2 result sent Dortmund through to the next round, ending Frankfurt’s cup hopes.

Speaking after the match, goal-scorer Julian Brandt credited Dortmund’s teamwork and goalkeeper Gregor Kobel for the victory. “We’ve got a sensational goalie and plenty of good penalty shooters. It feels nice,” Brandt told reporters, reflecting the team’s relief and confidence after a tough away test.

The match brought back memories of the 2017 German Cup final between the same teams, which Dortmund had won 2-1. Back then, current Dortmund coach Niko Kovac was in charge of Frankfurt, making this encounter a symbolic rematch. The result reaffirmed Dortmund’s strong cup tradition and resilience under pressure.

In other second-round fixtures, RB Leipzig advanced comfortably with a 4-1 win at Energie Cottbus. Johan Bakayoko and Christoph Baumgartner both scored twice for the defending champions. Bochum defeated Augsburg 1-0 away, while Borussia Moenchengladbach overcame Karlsruhe 3-1 at home. Hertha Berlin beat Elversberg 3-0, Hamburg edged Heidenheim 1-0, and Holstein Kiel stunned Wolfsburg with a 1-0 victory.

The German Cup continues on Wednesday, with heavyweights Bayern Munich visiting Cologne and holders Stuttgart taking on Mainz. With Dortmund joining Leipzig in the last 16, fans can expect more thrilling fixtures as the competition progresses toward the later rounds.

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