Comical Goal Seals HSV's Triumph, Dresden Marks Triumphant Takeover
Hamburger SV enjoys a comfortable cup evening and prepares for tougher tasks in the 2. Bundesliga. Their league foes Fortuna Düsseldorf, however, experience an unwelcome shock.
SV Meppen - Hamburger SV 1:7 (0:2)
Hamburger SV effortlessly completed their initial task in the DFB-Pokal, progressing to the next round. Facing lower league side SV Meppen, the team led by Steffen Baumgart emerged victorious 7:1 (2:0), barely breaking a sweat. The only negative was an injury-forced substitution of Bakery Jatta.
Following a short adjustment period, the second division team took charge. Immanuel Pherai (17.) and Miro Muheim (31.) – courtesy of a direct free kick conversion – already established a comfortable lead after thirty minutes. Another goal by Jatta (41.) was disallowed due to a suspected offside position.
Meppen, accustomed to facing HSV's second team in the Regionalliga Nord, posed little threat. Instead, they spent much of the game playing catch-up, with Hamburg maintaining firm control of the match.
The second half bore no changes. Davie Selke (56.), who replaced the injured Jatta, scored barely seconds after entering the fray. Pherai (59.) added another. Meppen's resistance crumbled: Fabio Balde (71.) made it 5, and Tim Möller (80.) scored an own goal in an unconventional manner. Robert Glatzel (87.) made it 6, with Daniel Haritonov (90.) scoring Meppen's consolation goal.
Dynamo Dresden - Fortuna Düsseldorf 2:0 (1:0)
Last season's DFB-Pokal semifinalist Fortuna Düsseldorf was knocked out after a subpar performance. The second division side succumbed 0:2 (0:1) to heavy favorites Dynamo Dresden.
Düsseldorf struggled to find their footing against their lower league opponents, remaining on the defensive for the better part of the first half hour. Dynamo's Robin Meißner missed a golden chance with a header from a corner (8.), before former Düsseldorf player Christoph Daferner (17.) found the net. Düsseldorf's previously indomitable defense appeared shaky throughout the contest.
In the second half, Düsseldorf got two golden opportunities, but Dresden's Tim Schreiber made a remarkable save. Dresden took control and had chances to put the game to bed, with Meißner eventually scoring the winner in a swift counterattack (69.).
Fortuna coach Daniel Thioune announced the impending return of Düsseldorf's record signing Dawid Kownacki from Werder Bremen. "There are still a few details to be ironed out, then I can say: Dawid, welcome home," Thioune said. In 22 Bundesliga appearances for Bremen, the Polish striker failed to score a single goal.
Sportfreunde Lotte - Karlsruher SC 0:5 (0:2)
Karlsruher SC successfully overcame its first-round jitters in the DFB-Pokal and comfortably advanced to the next round. The second division side defeated lower league opponent Sportfreunde Lotte 5:0 (2:0). Previously, Karlsruhe had lost six times in nine first-round matches, including last year to cup giant-killers 1. FC Saarbrücken.
For the home team that started the championship season with three wins, this was their fifth appearance in the main round. They had failed four times before, including three years ago against KSC (1:4).
The visitors got off to a perfect start at the Lotter Kreuz Stadium, opening the scoring just two minutes in through David Herold, who converted from 18 meters. Sportfreunde's goalkeeper Laurenz Beckemeyer failed to impress. In the 21st minute, Marvin Wanitzek also scored from a distance with a left-footed shot, making it 2:0. An own goal by Johannes Sabah (49'), a goal from Georgian national player Budu Siwsiwadse (69'), and a goal by Bambase Conte (82') sealed the hosts' defeat.
Hamburger SV's dominance in the DFB Cup continued with a convincing 7-1 win over SV Meppen, advancing to the next round. Meanwhile, Fortuna Düsseldorf faced an early exit, losing 0-2 to Dynamo Düsseldorf in the DFB Cup.
Despite leading 2-0 early in the first half, Fortuna Düsseldorf struggled against their lower league opponents and were unable to find their footing, eventually being eliminated from the DFB Cup.
