Black and Yellow cannot defend their title and fail in the round of 16 at FC St. Pauli. A huge upset takes its course too soon – and then, bad luck for the BVB team.
The German FA Cup has its next big surprise: defending champions Borussia Dortmund failed in the Round of 16 in the second division FC St. Pauli. In Hamburg, the Black and Yellow suffered a dramatic 1:2 (0:2) defeat and they have to surrender. Etienne Amenedo (fourth) and Axel Witsel’s goal (40) knocked out coach Marco Rose’s team, and Erling Haaland (No. 58, penalty kick) could only shorten it.
After Bayern Munich (who were knocked out in the second round), the second biggest title contender also failed in the final on May 21 in Berlin. For the first time since Eintracht Frankfurt (2018), the DFB Cup winner will not come from Munich or Dortmund. St. Pauli can look forward to a welcome cup prize of around €1m and are in the quarter-finals for the first time in 16 years – at the time after the legendary ‘Bocal Series’ (the only contenders with B) only Bayern were in the semi-finals.
Dortmund had to digest an early shock
Haaland, who recently made a fuss in his frustrating interview, and other stars found it surprisingly difficult against a well-organised Kizzicker. The real class of BVB, which recently won 5-1 at SC Freiburg, is almost undeveloped.
“Away, decisive, it’s all about it,” coach Marco Rose said before the match and warned St. Pauli. The hosts immediately got off to a better start, and Amenyido only had to push past a nice combination at close range. Not only did PVP, who had to lay off Mahmoud Daoud (backache) for a short period, look a little drowsy in the early stages – even if Thorgan Hazard missed an early equaliser (7th).
After the shock, BVB led by Captains Marco Reus and Jude Bellingham gradually gained the upper hand – and created some chances. But even Haaland targeted inaccurately (19).
Witsel has become unlucky
St. Pauli, who had not won the league in three games, was increasingly interested in defensive work and tried to put holes in the counter-attacks. Then one of them led to success again – after a sharp cross from Guido Burgstaller and an attempt by Witsel to clear the ball, the ball suddenly returned to the BVB goal.
With rage in their stomachs, the league stars repeatedly ran at them, but the defensive fortification of the host held out despite the power of the attack. Haaland’s goal was not enough for the title holder.
