Goalkeeper substitute for Cottbus sheds initial tears before turning into cup success story
Energie Cottbus Stuns Hannover 96 in DFB-Pokal Upset
In a shocking turn of events, third-tier Energie Cottbus defeated second-division side Hannover 96 1-0 in the first round of the 2025–26 DFB-Pokal. This victory marks a significant upset for Cottbus, who last reached the second round in 2013.
The decisive goal came early in the 12th minute from Tolcay Ciğerci. Despite Hannover earning a late penalty and scoring in injury time, the goal was ruled offside. Energie's backup goalkeeper, Alexander Sebald, played a crucial role with key saves, especially after a late injury to the regular keeper.
Hannover, who began their season with a perfect record in the 2. Bundesliga, found themselves in danger before Dinkçi scored an own goal. A free kick from Vincenzo Grifo and a header off the bar from Johan Manzambi caused danger for Hannover, but they managed to hold on.
SC Freiburg Cruises Past Fourth-Tier Opponents
SC Freiburg comfortably progressed to the second round with a 2-0 away victory against fourth-tier Sportfreunde Lotte. Eren Dinkçi scored the first goal for Freiburg in the 43rd minute, and Lucas Höler added the second in the 69th minute.
This victory marks a positive start to Freiburg's season under coach Julian Schuster, who was recently honoured as German Football Manager of the Year. SC Freiburg's dominance was evident, with over 80% possession during the match, and their goal tally could have been higher.
Other Matches
In other matches, SV Darmstadt 98 secured a 2-1 victory over VfB Lübeck. Matej Maglica and Fraser Hornby scored for Darmstadt, while Pierre Becken scored a late consolation goal for Lübeck. Notably, Darmstadt managed only 17 passes in the first half, but their superior skills shone through in the second half.
Lübeck, who are in dire financial straits, fielded a team consisting of many inexperienced players. This match marked the third year in a row that Hannover 96 has been eliminated in the first round of the DFB-Pokal in the Lausitz. The match was marred by an injury to Energie Cottbus' starter, Elias Bethke, who injured his leg during warm-up and left the field in tears.
In summary, Energie Cottbus’ victory was a rare and noteworthy cup upset with historical resonance for the club, while SC Freiburg’s progression reflected steady, controlled performance as they aimed for success in multiple competitions during the season. The other matches saw SV Darmstadt 98 secure a hard-fought victory, while VfB Lübeck and Hannover 96 struggled against tough opposition.
The Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of sports-related measures, considering the recent football upsets in the DFB-Pokal, such as Energie Cottbus' victory over Hannover 96. This season, German football is witnessing unexpected victories, like Energie Cottbus' historic win and SC Freiburg's dominance over fourth-tier opponents.
