Just a week before making their Bundesliga debut, RB Leipzig became the top tier’s first casualty in this year‘s DFB-Pokal, as they were beaten on penalties by in an east German grudge match by Dynamo Dresden.

Five other Bundesliga sides did make it through, with 1. FC Köln, FC Schalke 04, SC Freiburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach and VfL Wolfsburg all winning, with 1. FC Kaiserslautern the only 2. Bundesliga side to be knocked out by lower league opposition in Saturday’s games.

Dresden come from behind to stun Leipzig

There was plenty of tension in the build-up to this Saxony derby, and it proved to be a dramatic afternoon as last season’s 3. Liga champions beat last season’s 2. Bundesliga runners-up.

Leipzig had looked comfortable at half-time, leading 2-0 thanks to a goal from Marcel Sabitzer and a penalty from Dominik Kaiser. A tactical switch at half-time from Uwe Neuhaus worked wonders for Dresden though, with Stefan Kutschke scoring twice to force the game into extra time.

With no breakthrough in the extra 30 minutes, the game went to penalties. After each side had put away their first three spot kicks, Kaiser couldn’t repeat his success from normal time, his penalty saved by Marvin Schwäbe. Dresden won the shootout 5-4, with Aias Aosman converting the final penalty.

Anthony Modeste was amongst the scorers for Köln. | Photo: 1. FC Köln
Anthony Modeste was amongst the scorers for Köln. | Photo: 1. FC Köln

Five other Bundesliga sides all through

Leipzig were the only one of the six Bundesliga sides in action on Saturday to lose. Köln were the most successful of the winners, with a 7-0 victory over BFC Preussen of the sixth-tier Berlin-Liga. Six players got on the scoresheet for the Billy Goats, with substitute Yuya Osako scoring two late on.

Markus Weinzierl started his reign at Schalke in a 4-1 victory against FC 08 Villingen. Once Dennis Aogo scored early on the game was only likely to go one way, although the hosts had a late consolation thanks to Mario Ketterer. Freiburg didn't need Nils Petersen (who's in Brazil with the Olympic national team) as they beat SV Babelsberg 03 4-0. Vincenzo Grifo scored a brace.

It was much nervier for Gladbach however, who with one eye on their UEFA Champions League play-off second leg against BSC Young Boys made seven changes from their first leg win against the Swiss side in midweek. Julian Korb eventually scored their only goal ten minutes after half-time.

It was even more of a nail biter for Wolfsburg, who had lead 2-0 at 3. Liga side FSV Frankfurt thanks to a Steffen Schäfer own goal and Bas Dost. But Fabian Schleusener pulled one back early in the second half, and the Wolves were left clinging on for victory as Frankfurt threw a bombardment at them. But they managed to hold on.

Halle knock out Kaiserslautern in extra time

Tayfun Korkut’s indifferent start as Kaiserslautern coach continued as they were dumped out of the Pokal by Hallescher FC. Former Halle striker Osayamen Osawe scored twice against his old club, including a stoppage time equaliser after Halle had twice come from behind. Klaus Gjasula scored from the spot early on in extra time to send the 3. Liga side through.

Klaus Gjasula sending Halle through to the second round. | Photo: Hallescher FC
Klaus Gjasula sending Halle through to the second round. | Photo: Hallescher FC

Two other games went to penalties, with Arminia Bielefeld and 1. FC Nürnberg just getting through. Bielefeld drew 2-2 at Rot-Weis Essen, despite the Regionallliga West side being reduced to ten men after Patrick Huckle was sent off. Dennis Malura, who had scored the first of two equalisers for Essen, was the only man to miss in the shootout.

Viktoria Köln, another side from Regionalliga West, took Nürnberg all the way as well, after Mike Wunderlich equalised for them after Georg Margreitter had scored with fifteen minutes left. Again only one man was at fault in the penalties, with Kevin Holzweiler the unlucky man with Viktoria’s fifth spot kick. Würzburger Kickers needed extra time to beat Eintracht Braunschweig, avenging their league defeat just two weeks ago.

There was more drama in one of the early evening kick-offs, as 1860 Munich beat Karlsruher SC with a stoppage time winner from Karim Matmour. VFB Stuttgart had fewer problems in dispatching FC Homburg 3-0, whilst Fortuna Düsseldorf beat Hansa Rostock by the same scoreline.

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