- Würzburg kickers carry a substantial level of confidence with them.
Following a close call in the DFB-Pokal, the disheartened Würzburg Kickers received encouragement from their passionate fans during their lap of honor. "Keep your chins up," their heroes' advocates continuously encouraged.
As they had done five years prior, the Würzburg Kickers once again fell short of progressing to the second round of the financially rewarding tournament, this time losing to Bundesliga side TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in a pulsating penalty shootout. Advancing to the second round would have rewarded the underdog with a prize of 418,906 euros.
Farahnak outperforms his own goalkeeper
"Of course, it's gratifying to be applauded, but we must also be truthful: we're still out," coach Markus Zschiesche expressed after his fourth-tier team's 3:5 penalty shootout defeat to the Europa League contender. "We had the potential to accomplish something spectacular. But if you deliver the decisive blow in a game like today's and truly advance, it would be sensational."
The audacious Unterfranken were, in fact, on the brink of achieving something nearly unthinkable. A misstep by substitute goalkeeper Luca Philipp allowed Würzburg's Enes Kuc, who had stepped in at the last minute for the ailing Theo Harz, to put the ambitious underdog ahead 1:0 in front of 9,511 spectators after only 11 minutes. An own goal by Ebrahim Farahnak (18.), who had recently joined from Altglienicke, then left his own goalkeeper Johann Hipper astonished and brought the Kraichgauer back into the game.
Würzburg's Moritz Hannemann (100.) then regained the lead, but Marius Bülter (107.) equalized for Hoffenheim. It was only during the penalty shootout that Hoffenheim's goalkeeper Philipp made a crucial save against captain Dominik Meisel, shattering the hosts' cup aspirations. "If we replicate this level of performance in every game this season, we'll be tough to beat. Then we'll maintain our solid role," said coach Zschiesche hopefully.
Everyone should 'give it their all'
Würzburg clinched the Regionalliga Bayern championship last season but lost in the relegation playoff to Hannover 96 II in a penalty shootout, failing to promote. This season, the Kickers sit in eighth place after five games, with one game remaining.
"We'll take a great deal of confidence with us because we've proven what we're capable of," said Hannemann following the valiant performance of the Regional League team. "If everyone gives it their all, we can achieve great things."
The Wurzburg Kickers, despite their recent penalty shootout loss to Hoffenheim, demonstrated their potential to shock the higher division team. Hannemann, echoing the team's spirit, urged, "If everyone gives it their all, we can achieve great things."
Despite their heartbreaking defeat in the DFB-Pokal, the Wurzburg Kickers remain hopeful for future success, aiming to replicate their performance level in every game this season.
