DFB Pokal Round-Up: Frankfurt, Kaiserslautern Advance

The DFB Pokal has begun in exciting fashion with Bundesliga sides Kaiserslautern and Frankfurt battling for victory.

Kaiserslautern played their opening game against VfL Osnabruck, a team from Germany’s third division after being relegated from the second division last season. Kaiserslautern, on the other hand, are recently promoted to the Bundesliga and will be fighting relegation all season. Kaiserslautern put out nearly a full first-team side, and unfortunately they did very little by way of offering any hope for the upcoming season.

Sippel – Dick, Amedick, Rodnei, Bugera – Kirch, Tiffert, Bilek, Amri – Micanski, Lakic

Osnabruck started their strongest XI as well, with the intent of winning against a Kaiserslautern side who certainly overlooked their lowly opponents.

Berbig – Schnetzler, Nickenig, Barbetta, Kruk – Tyrala, Heidrich – Siegert, Lindemann, Lejan – Kotuljac

Osnabruck opened the scoring through a Sebastian Tyrala goal, and it was only a late 90th minute equalizer from Kaiserslautern captain Srdjan Lakic that forced extra-time and a life-line for FCK. Erwin Hoffer, the young Austrian who is currently on-loan at the club from Napoli, ended up being the difference. Two goals in extra-time meant a win for Kaiserslautern despite a late consolation from Osnabruck through Lindemann.

While the win is encouraging, the performance was not. Kaiserslautern must improve before the Bundesliga season starts.

Meanwhile, Frankfurt thumped SV Wilhelmshaven, a modest little club that play their football in Germany’s fourth division. Frankfurt lined up adequately and dispatched the side quite effectively.

Nikolov – Jung, Franz, Russ, Tzavellas – Schwegler – Ochs, Kohler – Meier – Altintop, Amanatidis

Goals from Amanatidis, Tzavellas, Ochs and Altintop ensured victory for Frankfurt and an encouraging start to another Bundesliga season.

The DFB Pokal also saw Arminia Bielefe,d FSV Frankfurt, FC Ingolstadt, and MSV Duisburg advance to the next round.