Wolfsburg scrape through against 2. Bundesliga club
Wolfsburg travelled to the Voith-Arena to play high flying Heidenheim in this DFB Pokal second round match up. A cagey first half with Wolfsburg probably just edging the game in terms of possession and chances, both teams went in level at 0-0.
Quality showed through just after the break with Mario Gomez opening the scoring 5 minutes into the second half from close range. Heidenheim gave it their best but perhaps the changes came too late and Wolfsburg managed to hold out the 0-1 away victory and made their progress through to the next round.
Goals galore between Hannover and Fortuna Düsseldorf
This second round match saw 5th host 7th from 2.Bundesliga in what most fans would expect to be a tight affair with both teams starting their season reasonably well. This was not the case. Hannover 96 flew out the blocks and got two goals in the first 7 minutes, coming from Artur Sobiech and Felix Klaus respectively. This didn’t end here as former VfB Stuttgart man Martin Harnik grabbed two goals within a minute to extend the lead to four only 16 minutes in.
With Dusseldorf all at sea they managed to grab perhaps an early consolation through Kevin Akpoguma, the young loan defender from Hoffenheim. A possible miracle was cut short 14 minutes later with Klaus grabbing his second of the game, making it 5-1 to the home side at half time.
The second half was no different with Sebastian Maier also getting on the score sheet 10 minutes in. The game was already over and certainly a night for Fortuna Dusseldorf to forget. One for Hannover fans to relish and take into their league campaign.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth defeat Bundesliga club
This tie saw the Shamrocks host the O-Fivers with Greuther sitting 9th in 2.Bundesliga and Mainz 05 performing very well in the Bundesliga in 6th position. This game would probably have been tipped for a routine away win but there is always some form of late drama in the DFB Pokal.
A first half with a few half-chances ended 0-0 with both sides probably happy. Mainz 05 would go on to take the lead in the 68th minute through powerful striker Jhon Córdoba with a good header into the corner of the net. Greuther would level the tie up ten minutes later through new recruit Sercan Sararer and would manage to pinch the match in the final minutes through Veton Berisha, with Mainz 05 getting dealt the sucker punch and being knocked out by the hosts.
Another defeat for a Bundesliga side
The biggest shock of the night coming from fourth tier FC Astoria Walldorf knocking out Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98. The underdogs made it 1-0 in the 32nd minute through Nico Hillenbrand and held on for dear life as Darmstadt hunted for that equaliser that never came.
Darmstadt 99 manager Norbert Meier after the game congratulated FC Astoria Walldorf on a “fantastic game” and was frustrated with his side’s “hectic play and inaccurate passing” but also praising Walldorf’s style of play and their attitude to stay in the game. Walldorf Manager Matthias Born said his team had “the necessary luck you need as a regional league team for a match like this.”
