2. Bundesliga
Hertha make history to oust Red Devils
The 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn went into the record books on a night when Hertha Berlin blazed past Bundesliga 2 rivals Kaiserslautern to book their place in the DFB Cup quarter-finals, Luca Schuler also netting a double in a Round of 16 rout.
Hertha Berlin 6-1 Kaiserslautern
Goals: 1-0 Schuler 6', 2-0 Winkler 21', 3-0 Eichhorn 31', 3-1 Ritter 45'+2', 4-1 Schuler 61', 5-1 Kownacki 75', 6-1 Krattenmacher 79'
Schuler scored the only goal of the game to decide the meeting between these teams in Bundesliga 2 less than a month prior to this knockout meeting. The 26-year-old was at it again at the Olympiastadion, cementing a whirlwind home opening that was helped by some poor defending from the visitors.
Pouncing on Maxwell Gyamfi's poor back pass before rounding goalkeeper Simon Simoni and finishing with ease, Schuler's opener was soon added to by Marten Winkler's sensational second, the 23-year-old racing the length of the pitch before netting with aplomb.
When teenager Eichhorn then immediately followed up a tremendous shot from distance that cannoned off the crossbar with a finish belying his tender age, the DFB Cup and Hertha both had their youngest-ever goalscorers. What, in hindsight, added to Kaiserslautern's problems, was that Marlon Ritter's strike right before the break gave the visitors a false sense of hope.
The Red Devils raised their game briefly after the restart, but when Schuler scored what was his sixth goal in seven appearances in all competitions against Torsten Lieberknecht's team, this tie was over. Substitutes Dawid Kownacki and Bayern Munich loanee Maurice Krattenmacher subsequently completed the home celebrations.
As it happened ...
6 - 1(3 - 1)
Hertha
FINAL
Kaiserslautern
87'
vs
Alidou has a go
The Lautern substitute can't make any inroads on the scoreboard with his shot failing to trouble the Hertha goal.
84'
vs
Work for Ernst
An ironic home cheer goes around the stadium as home goalkeeper Tjark Ernst makes a save to keep his team 6-1 ahead, Skyttä being denied from close range.
79'
vs
And another ...
Another Hertha sub gets on the scoresheet as Bayern Munich loanee Krattenmacher slams a shot past the despairing Simoni.
75'
vs
Ha Ho He!
Hertha are going through to the DFB Cup quarter-finals. The substitutes Krattenmacher and Kownacki combine - the former feeding the latter to tap home - after a howler from Simoni.
72'
vs
Maurice Krattenmacher
Fabian Reese
71'
vs
Dawid Kownacki
Luca Schuler
69'
vs
No way through
Skyttä is first to reach a visiting corner, but the Finn can't direct the ball on target.
62'
vs
Faride Alidou
Dickson Abiama
61'
vs
Hertha look home free
Just when Kaiserslautern appeared to be slowly working their way back into this game, Hertha counter to devastating effect. Cuisance picks out the onrushing Luca Schuler, who sends the ball through Simoni for what is his sixth goal in seven appearances against Kaiserslautern in all competitions. That should do it for the Old Lady.
57'
vs
Set-piece chance
Semih Sahin looks to get onto the end of a training-ground set-piece for Kaiserslautern but his effort is blocked.
54'
vs
Visitors scheming
Skyttä gets to the byline and pings a cross into the danger zone in front of Ernst. The Hertha goalkeeper fingertips that one away from danger.
52'
vs
Reese goal hungry
The hosts storm forward through Cuisance. Reese eventually collects possession, cuts across the area and floats a left-footed shot well wide of the upright.
50'
vs
Youngster impressing
Eichhorn picks up possession in the middle of the park and the home fans raise their voices in expectancy. The teen looks to pick out Schuler with a darting pass through the middle. The ball has a touch too much power on it.
47'
vs
Simoni error
The Lautern keeper comes - and flaps - at a Hertha set-piece. Reese is there at the far post and looks to take advantage. His shot is deflected wide.
46'
vs
Defensive swap
The visitors introduce Leon Robinson for the second half.
46'
vs
Leon Robinson
Jan Elvedi
46'
vs
Back underway
Hertha get the second-half going ...
45' +2
vs
Red Devils back in it?
Ritter's accurate shot from outside the area sails towards the near post, hits the inside of it, and nestles into the net. Kaiserslautern have a big lifeline just before half-time.
45'
vs
Gyamfi booked
Poor Gyamfi's miserable first half is complete after the referee flashes a yellow card in the defender's direction.
45'
vs
Maxwell Gyamfi
43'
vs
Woodwork again!
Simon Simoni makes a superb double stop to keep Kaiserslautern semi-decent here. The Albanian custodian gets something on Reese's powerful effort from the right, with the ball subsequently battering the crossbar. Schuler is there on the follow-up bbut is denied by the alert Simoni, who makes a brilliant reaction save.
40'
vs
Winkler down
The Hertha man takes a clearance straight to the face and needs treatment.
33'
vs
Visitors suffering
Winkler finds some space and gets a low shot at goal away. His effort is deflected an inch wide of the upright. Goalkeepr Simon Simoni was getting nowhere near that had it been on target.
30'
vs
Olympiastadion bouncing
Just prior to scoring, the young teen almost netted an absolute worldie, spinning on the edge of the area and flashing a sensational shot from the right that cracked the crossbar. Hertha kept the move going and Dardai slipped a pass into Eichhorn, who finished with aplomb.
30'
vs
History is made!
Would you believe it!? Kennet Eichhorn has just become the youngest-ever goalscorer in the DFB Cup and Hertha's youngest-ever goalscorer.
29'
vs
Lautern chance
Skyttä slices a shot well wide of the target when the ball was popped back to him on the edge of the area.
26'
vs
Skyttä booked
A poor challenge from the Finn on Kolbe and that'll be a yellow card.
26'
vs
Naatan Skyttä
23'
vs
Red Devils need a lift
Visiting coach Torsten Lieberknecht is understandably livid on the sidelines. His Kaiserslautern team have been at fault for both goals thus far and it could be even worse, what with Hertha hitting the post earlier.
20'
vs
WHAT A GOAL!
Kaiserslautern give up possession in the Hertha area and Marten Winkler pounces. The 23-year-old bursts into space, keeps on running and gets into the visiting box. From there, Winkler beats two men and slots a tidy finish under Simon Simoni! Insane goal.
13'
vs
Dárdai booked
The Hertha man catches Ritter late and goes into the referee's notebook.
13'
vs
Márton Dárdai
10'
vs
Off the woodwork!
Amazing. Gyamfi is involved again as he can only divert a Cuisance pass into Luca Shuler's path. The striker batters a brilliant strike across the goalkeeper and looks on as it smashes against the inside of the post and away to safety.
8'
vs
Lautern power back
A lovely volley from the left from Kleinhansl smashes into the side-netting. That would have been a very tidy equaliser. Fantastic opening to this game in the German capital.
6'
vs
Hosts hit the front!
He scored against Kaiserslautern in the teams' recent league meeting and Luca Schuler is at it again early doors at the Olympiastadion. A desperately poor pass back from Gyamfi is intercepted by the Hertha forward, who races away towards goal, rounds the Lautern keeper and powers home into the empty net.
3'
vs
What. A. Chance!
Prtajin is involved again, this time getting his head to the ball when completely unmarked inside the six yard area. The Croatian forward can't get any power behind his effort and Tjark Ernst is relieved to claim with ease in the Hertha goal.
2'
vs
Prtajin warning
Lautern's Ivan Prtajin goes in a bit too hard on Marton Dardai and the visiting No. 9 gets a strong telling off from the ref.
1'
vs
Away we go!
Kaiserslautern - in red shorts and white shorts - get this eliminator underway.
vs
Electric atmosphere
The Olympiastadion is resplendent in blue and white as both teams emerge from the tunnel and take to the pitch ahead of tonight's Round of 16 tie.
vs
Kaiserslautern starting XI
Simoni - Sirch, Gyamfi, Elvedi - Abiama, Kunze, Şahin, Kleinhansl - Skyttä, Ritter (c) - Prtajin
vs
Kaiserslautern subs
Krahl, Haas, Aremu, Hofmeister, Raschl, Robinson, Alidou, Hanslik, Tachie
vs
Hertha starting XI
Ernst - Gechter, Leistner, Dardai, Kolbe - Seguin, Eichhorn - Reese (c), Cuisance, Winkler - Schuler
vs
Hertha subs
Gersbeck, Eitschberger, Karbownik, Demme, Krattenmacher, Sessa, Grönning, Kownacki, Thorsteinsson