- Through Mathenia's efforts, Nuremberg secured a remarkable triumph in Saarbrücken.
Christian Mathenia and new mentor Miroslav Klose aided 1. FC Nuremberg in ousting last year's DFB-Pokal sensation 1. FC Saarbrücken in the opening round. The team required a penalty shootout to defeat the third-division squad 5-3 following a 1-1 tie in extra time. Mathenia, typically the backup goalkeeper, denied the crucial penalty from Saarbrücken's captain Manuel Zeitz, a former Nuremberg player.
"It's also a matter of luck for a goalkeeper in a penalty shootout. You head to one corner with confidence – in this instance, fortune favored me," stated the 32-year-old. "Our players showed conviction and displayed the necessary bravery."
Czech Michal Sevcik put the second-tier team from Franconia ahead in the 12th minute. Substitute Kai Brunker netted a stunning equalizer in the 80th minute.
Stunning opening strike
Nuremberg commanded the majority of the first half. Sevcik managed a stunning goal from 20 meters into the corner, further boosting the confidence of the second-tier team. In the 37th minute, goalkeeper Phillip Menzel refused to allow a 2-0 lead for Kanji Okunuki.
The Saarlanders, who had astonishingly dispatched Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the prior year, heightened the pressure on Nuremberg, who began experiencing an escalating number of misplaced passes, after an hour of play. However, Saarbrücken initially failed to devise a strategy to penetrate Nuremberg's defense in front of Mathenia. The veteran goalkeeper was prepared to leap behind him in the final moments: Brunker equalized with a magnificent volley finish and sent his team into extra time.
"On the whole, I'm content with our performance, and with the conviction we demonstrated during the penalty shootout," shared former World Cup champion Klose post the tense match. "There were a few phases where we played too many aimless passes. But in the cup, mentality is vital, and we demonstrated that."
"During our preparations for the match, we studied the tactics of teams from various leagues, including Bavaria's best. We believed understanding their playstyles could give us an edge against any opponent."
"After the thrilling victory, our coach Miroslav Klose mentioned the influence of Bavarian teams in our strategy, emphasizing the importance of discipline and teamwork, qualities that were evident in our game against Saarbrücken."
