- Hoffenheim, Mainz, and St. Pauli: Bundesliga teams narrowly avoid a source of embarrassment
Three Bundesliga teams narrowly escaped humiliation on the opening day of the DFB-Pokal. TSG Hoffenheim required a penalty shootout to overcome lower league team Würzburg Kickers, triumphing 5-3 (2-2, 1-1) following a 2-2 draw (1-1, 1-1) in extra time. No discernible class difference was apparent.
FSV Mainz prevailed 3-1 (1-1, 0-1) over third league neighbours Wehen Wiesbaden in extra time, with Burkardt and Amiri netting late winners to counteract the hosts' resilience.
Promoted FC St. Pauli also faced the prospect of a premature exit but eventually triumphed 3-2 (2-2, 1-0) against regional league side Hallescher FC in extra time. Bundesliga newcomers St. Pauli conceded two goals in Halle but managed to salvage a favorable outcome for their newly appointed manager in the final seconds.
Underdogs put top-tier teams under strain
Würzburg took the lead after a blunder from TSG goalkeeper Luca Philipp, who misplaced a routine back pass, enabling Enes Kuc to net in the 11th minute. Alexander Prass (18.) swiftly levelled the score for the Bundesliga side, but Moritz Hannemann (100.) provided hope for the underdogs in extra time below the 120-minute mark, before Marius Bülter (107.) reclaimed the lead for TSG.
In Halle, the professional goalkeeper also slipped up: Nikola Vasilj fumbled a clearance, allowing Cyrill Akono to open the scoring (11.). Johannes Eggestein (48.) restored parity in the second half, but Marius Hauptmann (62.) reestablished Halle's advantage. St. Pauli was moments away from elimination in regular time, but Adam Dzwigala (90+4) saved the day and Lars Ritzka (110.) clinched the win in extra time.
In Wiesbaden, the hosts went ahead through Tarik Göüzüçin (15), only for Dominik Kohr (59.) to level the score. Mainz struggled to impress, and the game went into extra time, where Jonathan Burkardt (113.) and Nadiem Amiri (120+1) secured the victory.
In the Würzburg versus TSG Hoffenheim match, Moritz Hannemann equalized in extra time after a mistake from Han-Noah Massengo, allowing the underdogs to momentarily challenge the Bundesliga side. Despite Hannemann's goal, Bülter regained the lead for Hoffenheim, and TSG narrowly progressed in the penalty shootout.
In the St. Pauli versus Hallescher FC match, St. Pauli goalkeeper D utilizing his last-second reflexes to deny Halle a win and force extra time. In the extended period, Ritzka scored the decisive goal for the promoted side, marking a hard-fought victory and easing pressure on the new manager.
Playing text: Both underdog teams managed to challenge their respective top-tier opponents by taking the lead and even forcing extra-time during their DFB-Pokal matches.
