The 1st round of the DFB Cup always thrives on the fact that the favorites stumble. This time it gets SpVgg Greuther Fürth, which loses at fifth division Stuttgarter Kickers. Second division rivals Fortuna Düsseldorf, on the other hand, progressed confidently, while VfL Wolfsburg scored in the last minute.
Stuttgarter Kickers - SpVgg Greuther Furth 2: 0 (1: 0)
The former Bundesliga club Stuttgarter Kickers knocked out SpVgg Greuther Fürth, who had been relegated from the first division, out of the DFB Cup in the first round. The fifth division kept the upper hand in Degerloch with 2:0 (1:0). Denis Zagaria (8th) with a header and three minutes earlier substitute David Braig (88th) with a left-footed shot scored for the kickers.
The cloverleaf from Franconia had the more mature game system, but the Swabians threw a lot of commitment and enthusiasm into the scales. This is how an interesting cup fight developed, which gained special appeal through the early leadership of the Stuttgart team.
Kickers keeper Ramon Castellucci had to prove his skills several times after the 1-0. So against Ragnar Ache (13th), who missed a first-class chance. Tobias Raschl (33'), who had a free-standing shot from 14 meters but missed the goal by a hair's breadth, also had a good opportunity to equalize. Although the guests got more out of the game, Stuttgart remained dangerous on the offensive in the second half and had clearer chances. But Braig made everything clear shortly after his substitution.
FC Carl Zeiss Jena - VfL Wolfsburg 0:1 (0:0)
Sporty with difficulty and this time without a sixth change: Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg narrowly avoided an embarrassment when their new coach Niko Kovac made his competitive debut. In a hard-fought game at the regional league club Carl Zeiss Jena, Lower Saxony prevailed 1-0 (0-0). Omar Marmoush (90.2) decided the game late in favor of the Wolves, Jena were on equal footing for long stretches. In the league, things will get serious for VfL for the first time next Saturday in front of their home crowd in a northern duel with newly promoted Werder Bremen.
VfL first underlined that they didn't want to leave any doubts about victory, at least in terms of sport. National player Lukas Nmecha tested Jena's goalkeeper Kevin Kunz (8th). A lively game developed in which the regional league team also repeatedly set their own accents. However, the Wolfsburg were responsible for the occasional promising actions in front of the goal. Two minutes after the restart, the guests were only centimeters from the lead. A direct shot from the back by Jonas Wind jumped off the bottom of the bar just in front of the goal line. On the other side, Maxence Lacroix blocked Jena's most dangerous attack to date.
After that, the underdog got stronger and took control of the game. VfL lacked ideas until Jakub Kaminski, who had come on as a substitute seconds earlier, forced Kunz to do a brilliant job on his debut in the Wolfsburg jersey (66'). The wolves then continued to attack, Jena increasingly limited themselves to defensive work. Marmoush redeemed the favorite with a header.
Kickers Offenbach - Fortuna Düsseldorf 1:4 (0:1)
Second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf has advanced to the second round for the eighth time in a row. The two-time cup winner prevailed 4-1 (1-0) against the regional league club Kickers Offenbach. Andre Hoffmann (34'), Kristoffer Peterson (54') and Daniel Ginczek (71', 79') scored the goals for the Rhinelanders. Jakob Lemmer (57th) shortened for the Kickers in the meantime.
After the perfect start with two league wins, the guests at the former Bundesliga club struggled for long stretches of the first half. However, the favorite used a standard situation to lead. Captain Hofmann headed in a corner powerfully.
Offenbach increased their offensive efforts after the change and was countered ice cold. Peterson raised for coach Daniel Thioune's side. Lemmer made it exciting again, but substitute Ginczek made the decision.
