Borussia Mönchengladbach became Arminia Bielefeld’s next victim as they were knocked out on penalties in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and missed out on the chance to edge ever closer to their first title in 20 years. The third placed side in the Bundesliga went down 5-4 on penalties to the side top of the 3. Liga after Raffael and Ibrahima Traoré both missed their respective spot kicks. After 120 minutes, the game finished 1-1.
This is the seventh time that Gladbach have gone out on penalties in the past 20 years and will once again be spectators to the final on 30th May. The last time Borussia reached the final was back in 1995, when they beat Wolfsburg 3-0 to win the title in Berlin.
“It’s pretty bitter, we wanted to get to Berlin. We only have ourselves to blame for letting the game go to penalties,” said Gladbach striker Max Kruse after the game. Bielefeld’s sporting director Samir Arabi said: “We’re delighted. When was the last time a third division side reached the semi-finals?”
Bielefeld, who had already knocked out Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen, are the seventh third division side in the history of the tournament to reach the semi-finals and the first since the league was renamed the 3. Liga back in 2008. Three of those sides have gone on to reach the final, but no third division side has ever lifted the trophy.
Junglas fires Bielefeld in front, Kruse scores the equaliser
Manuel Junglas, who scored twice in their 3-1 win over Bremen in the previous round, put Arminia in front in the 26th minute before Germany international Max Kruse scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute. Bielefeld striker Fabian Klos had a chance to win the game in extra time, but his header in the 114th minute went just wide.
Gladbach manager Lucien Favre made two changes to his side following the 4-1 win over 1899 Hoffenheim at the weekend, bringing in Thorgan Hazard and André Hahn in place of Fabian Johnson and Raffael. Defensive stalwart Martin Stranzl continued to miss out, with Roel Brouwers filling in at centre back.
Bielefeld remain patient
The underdogs made it clear from the off that the side pushing for Champions League football next year would not have it all their own way. Bielefeld fought hard from the first minute and weren’t only solid at the back but they also remained patient going forward.
The third division side also had some chances in the first half: Christoph Hemlein’s effort from 25 metres was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer (16’), before the goalkeeper was required to tip a deflected cross over the bar once again (23’). The home fans, who were part of the 26,137 spectators, then began to believe that they could cause an upset. And when Junglas fired his side in front, the whole ground were in bedlam.
The highly disputed penalty, which was awarded for a handball by Florian Dick, brought Borussia back into the game. It brought the favourites some security but they were unable to dominate the game. Arminia pulled themselves together once again and created a few further chances, but there was no separating the two sides after normal time.
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Borussia Mönchengladbach became Arminia Bielefeld’s next victim as they were knocked out on penalties in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup and missed out on the chance to edge ever closer to their first title in 20 years. The third placed side in the Bundesliga went down 5-4 on penalties to the side top of the 3. Liga after Raffael and Ibrahima Traoré both missed their respective spot kicks. After 120 minutes, the game finished 1-1.
This is the seventh time that Gladbach have gone out on penalties in the past 20 years and will once again be spectators to the final on 30th May. The last time Borussia reached the final was back in 1995, when they beat Wolfsburg 3-0 to win the title in Berlin.
“It’s pretty bitter, we wanted to get to Berlin. We only have ourselves to blame for letting the game go to penalties,” said Gladbach striker Max Kruse after the game. Bielefeld’s sporting director Samir Arabi said: “We’re delighted. When was the last time a third division side reached the semi-finals?”
Bielefeld, who had already knocked out Hertha BSC and Werder Bremen, are the seventh third division side in the history of the tournament to reach the semi-finals and the first since the league was renamed the 3. Liga back in 2008. Three of those sides have gone on to reach the final, but no third division side has ever lifted the trophy.
Junglas fires Bielefeld in front, Kruse scores the equaliser
Manuel Junglas, who scored twice in their 3-1 win over Bremen in the previous round, put Arminia in front in the 26th minute before Germany international Max Kruse scored the equaliser from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute. Bielefeld striker Fabian Klos had a chance to win the game in extra time, but his header in the 114th minute went just wide.
Gladbach manager Lucien Favre made two changes to his side following the 4-1 win over 1899 Hoffenheim at the weekend, bringing in Thorgan Hazard and André Hahn in place of Fabian Johnson and Raffael. Defensive stalwart Martin Stranzl continued to miss out, with Roel Brouwers filling in at centre back.
Bielefeld remain patient
The underdogs made it clear from the off that the side pushing for Champions League football next year would not have it all their own way. Bielefeld fought hard from the first minute and weren’t only solid at the back but they also remained patient going forward.
The third division side also had some chances in the first half: Christoph Hemlein’s effort from 25 metres was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Borussia goalkeeper Yann Sommer (16’), before the goalkeeper was required to tip a deflected cross over the bar once again (23’). The home fans, who were part of the 26,137 spectators, then began to believe that they could cause an upset. And when Junglas fired his side in front, the whole ground were in bedlam.
The highly disputed penalty, which was awarded for a handball by Florian Dick, brought Borussia back into the game. It brought the favourites some security but they were unable to dominate the game. Arminia pulled themselves together once again and created a few further chances, but there was no separating the two sides after normal time.
