Borussia Dortmund held their nerve under pressure to eliminate Eintracht Frankfurt from the German Cup on Tuesday night, winning 4โ2 on penalties after an intense 1โ1 draw that had everything โ early goals, controversy, disallowed strikes, and a dramatic shootout finale. In a match that showcased the unpredictable magic of the Pokal, Dortmund proved their mettle, booking a well-deserved place in the Round of 16.
The night started brightly for the hosts as Frankfurtโs old Dortmund duo โ Mario Gรถtze and Ansgar Knauff โ combined to haunt their former club. In just the seventh minute, Gรถtze sliced open the Dortmund defense with a perfectly weighted through ball, and Knauff, showing ice-cold composure, slotted past Gregor Kobel to send the home fans into raptures. It was the perfect script for Frankfurt โ former Dortmund heroes striking the first blow.
However, the visitors slowly grew into the game. Dortmund, under Niko Kovacโs pragmatic yet progressive system, began to dictate tempo through Julian Brandt and Carney Chukwuemeka, who consistently probed the Frankfurt backline. Their persistence paid off three minutes after the restart when Julian Ryerson delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, leaving Brandt with the simplest of tap-ins to level the score at 1โ1.
From there, the clash turned into a tactical chess match. Frankfurt threatened on the counter through Can Uzun and Ritsu Doan, while Dortmund sought control with clever link-ups between Felix Nmecha and Fabio Silva. The hosts thought they had won it deep in extra time when Jonathan Burkardt bundled home from close range in the 115th minute, only for VAR to intervene and rule the goal offside โ sparking groans of disbelief around the stadium.
The match headed for penalties, where Dortmundโs composure under pressure shone through. Silva, Sรผle, Chukwuemeka, and Nmecha all converted their spot kicks with precision, while Kobel emerged the hero, saving one and forcing another miss as Frankfurtโs Doan skied his effort and Fares Chaibi saw his drive smothered. The visiting bench erupted in celebration as the final whistle confirmed a gritty, hard-fought victory.
The triumph marks Dortmundโs revenge for their 2017 Cup final loss to Frankfurt โ when, ironically, Kovac was in the opposite dugout. With this resilient display, the Black and Yellows once again proved theyโre serious contenders for silverware this season, showing that even when beauty fades, Dortmundโs steel and spirit never do.
