Hoffenheim crush Kiel to advance into German Cup last 16
By Xinhua News Agency, October 28, 2021
Berlin, Wednesday
Hoffenheim stepped into the German Cup last 16 with a 5-1 home win over second division outfit Holstein Kiel on Tuesday.
Kiel made a bright start as Fabian Reese’s dangerous cross to the far post met Fin Bartels, who volleyed over from a promising position just 30 seconds into the clash.
However, the opening goal was scored at the other end two minutes later, as Johannes van den Bergh cleared Georginio Rutter’s square pass into the wrong goal, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.
To make things worse, Kiel added another own goal at the half-hour mark as Hauke Wahl cleared Munas Dabbu’s build-up into his own net.
Kiel eventually created a chance on goal in the 35th minute when Simon Lorenz headed narrowly over following Alexander Muhling’s corner.
The lower league side were rewarded for their persistence after the restart, as Phil Neumann finished off his own rebound to halve the deficit from very close range two minutes into the half.
Hoffenheim responded well as Angelo Stiller had time and space to unleash a hammer from 20 meters to restore the two-goal lead at the hour mark.
Front foot
The hosts continued on the front foot and weren’t done with the scoring as Dabbur and Jacob Bruun Larsen got their names on the scoreboard as well, after Kiel’s resistance was broken in the closing stages.
“We absolutely deserved to progress as we played very well today. Holstein Kiel is not an easy opponent, but we were fully focussed,” said Hoffenheim defender Kevin Vogt.
Elsewhere, fellow second division side Ingolstadt gave Borussia Dortmund a hard time, but the cup holders progressed thanks to a late second-half brace from substitute Thorgan Hazard.
Hertha Berlin also made it into the last 16 after overpowering ten-men Preussen Munster 3-1. -Xinhua