DFB Pokal roundup: Upsets aplenty as fourth division side RW Essen reach round of 16

There were plenty of upsets in the second round of the DFB Pokal, as RW Essen qualified for the round of 16, while Union Berlin and Hoffenheim were sent packing.

The second round of the DFB Pokal is almost complete, with just two games remaining (which will be played in January). While Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach managed to qualify for the round of 16, Union Berlin, Hoffenheim and Mainz were all upset by lower league opposition. Fourth division side RW Essen also enjoyed a memorable win over the recently relegated Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Borussia Dortmund earned a 2-0 win over Eintracht Braunschweig, with Mats Hummels and Jadon Sancho finding the net. The Black and Yellows weren’t at their best, but still managed to get a hard-fought win over the second division side.

RB Leipzig cruised to a 3-0 victory over FC Augsburg, with Willi Orban, Yussuf Poulsen and Angelino getting on the score-sheet. Borussia Mönchengladbach also enjoyed a comfortable win to seal their progress, as they beat fourth division side SV 07 Elversberg 5-0.

Schalke 04 ended their dismal year by earning a 3-1 win away to SSV Ulm 1846. While the Royal Blues are 29 games without a win in the Bundesliga, they have won two of their last three games in the DFB Pokal, losing only to Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg also enjoyed a comfortable win, beating SV Sandhausen 4-0. Wout Weghorst continued his fine run of form by scoring a brace for Oliver Glasner’s side. Werder Bremen earned a 3-0 win away to Hannover 96, while FC Köln edged past VfL Osnabruck with a 1-0 victory. While VfB Stuttgart also got a narrow win over SC Freiburg.

Big upsets as Union Berlin, Hoffenheim and Mainz are eliminated

Three Bundesliga sides were beaten by lower league opposition in the second round of the DFB Pokal. Union Berlin ended what has been an incredible 2020 for them with a 2-3 defeat to SC Paderborn.

TSG Hoffenheim suffered penalty heart-ache as they were dumped out of the DFB Pokal by SpVgg Greuther Furth. The two sides played out a 2-2 draw after 120 minutes, and the second division side won 7-6 after a long and tense penalty shootout.

Mainz 05’s poor run of form continued on Wednesday, as they were eliminated on penalties by VfL Bochum. The 05ers let slip a two goal lead, with Robert Tesche scoring a 94th minute equaliser for Bochum. Manuel Riermann was sent off for Bochum in extra time, but Mainz failed to take advantage and were eliminated on penalties.

The biggest upset of all came in the North Rhine-Westphalia, where RW Essen stunned Fortuna Düsseldorf 3-2. The fourth division table-toppers played without any fear and stunned the recently Fortuna Düsseldorf relegated to seal their place in the round of 16.

SV Darmstadt also qualified for the round of 16 after beating Dynamo Dresden 3-0. While SSV Jahn Regensburg defeated SV Wehen Wiesbaden 4-2 on penalties.

There are two more fixtures still to be played in the second round. Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt will face off on January 12, while Holstein Kiel will host Bayern Munich a day later. The draw for the third round of the DFB Pokal will take place on January 03.