Bundesliga
Dramatic Forsberg strike in extra-time sends Leipzig into DFB Cup final
RB Leipzig narrowly edged Werder Bremen to book their place in the DFB Cup final on Friday night, with Emil Forsberg clinching a dramatic 2-1 victory for his side in stoppage time of extra-time.
Werder 1-2 Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Hwang (93’), 1-1 Bittencourt (105'+1), 1-2 Forsberg (120'+1)
In search of a second DFB Cup final appearance in their history, Leipzig flew out of the traps and took just four minutes to force Werder goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka into action. Angelino’s cross with the outside of his foot picked out Alexander Sörloth, whose header looked destined for the back of the net until Pavlenka intervened low to his right. Half an hour in, Josh Sargent should’ve put Bremen ahead. But - having superbly held off the challenge of Dayot Upamecano - the American striker could only shin wide when one-on-one with Peter Gulasci. The hosts then thought they had a penalty on the stroke of half time, only for the referee to overturn his own decision after checking the pitch-side monitors as the two sides went into the break goalless.
Leipzig’s waves of attack after the break were continually met by stubborn Werder resistance, and if it wasn’t the Bremen defence denying Leipzig, it was the woodwork - Willi Orban and Christopher Nkunku denied by crossbar and post, respectively. Both sides pushed for a late winner but neither could find their range, sending the game into 30 minutes of extra-time. Leipzig needed just three of those to finally break the deadlock as late sub Hee-chan Hwang pounced to put his team in front. But Bremen weren’t done, with Leonardo Bittencourt pulling them level with an excellent finish after a mistake from Upamecano. The game looked destined for penalties, until Forsberg popped up in the dying embers of extra-time to volley home Hwang’s cushioned header.
Match stats
- Bittencourt’s goal was his fifth of the campaign, but first in the cup in his second appearance.
- Bremen and Leipzig both conceded for the first time in this season’s competition.
Hwang is yet to score a Bundesliga goal for Leipzig, but has scored three times in four DFB Cup appearances this season. - Leipzig have now reached the German cup final for only the second time in their history; they previously finished as runners-up after losing to Bayern Munich in the 2018/19 final.
- Julian Nagelsmann's side have won eight of their 10 meetings with Bremen, including each of the last five - albeit this was secured in extra-time.
- The soon-to-be Bayern coach’s personal record against Bremen now stretches to five wins from five and reads overall as: P8, W5, D2, L1.
Line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka - Veljkovic, Groß (Bargfrede 119’), Moisander (c) - Gebre Selassie, Eggestein, Mbom (Bittencourt 73’), Augustinsson - Sargent, Selke (Möhwald 96’) - Füllkrug (Osako 66’)
Unused subs: Zetterer, Schmid, Erras, Rieckmann, Dinkci
Out: Friedl (knock), Plogmann (knee), Toprak (calf), Woltemade (knee)
Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Leipzig: Gulacsi - Orban, Konate, Upamecano - Mukiele, Sabitzer (c) (Poulsen 74’), Kampl, Angelino (Henrichs 103’) - Olmo, Haidara (Nkunku 46’) (Forsberg 114’) - Sörloth (Hwang 90’)
Unused subs: Martinez, Adams, Klostermann, Laimer
Out: Szoboszlai (groin)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
As it happened!
1 - 2(0 - 0)
Bremen
FINAL
Leipzig
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LEIPZIG REACH THE FINAL!
It's a hugely bitter blow for Bremen to concede so late on, having battled so bravely for 120 minutes, but ultimately Forsberg's goal was decisive. Leipzig were were superior in a goalless first half, even if Bremen had their chances, but the hosts pushed their visitors all the way. Leipzig will now meet either Borussia Dortmund or Holstein Kiel in the final on 13 May.
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FORSBERG SURELY WINS IT!
Kampl dinks a cross into the box, Hwang heads it back across goal and Forsberg arrives in the six-yard box to force it over the line!
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TWO MORE MINUTES!
We had a late goal at the end of the first half of extra time. Will the same happen here?
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FORSBERG ON
Nkunku goes off. He looks to have been hurt in a tackle. Forsberg takes his place; the Swede is a good penalty taker, should it come to that.
114'
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Emil Forsberg
Christopher Nkunku
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FATIGUE BITING
The players are still giving their all, but more and more passes are going astray now as legs tire.
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OVER FROM POULSEN!
A glorious chance for Leipzig as the ball falls kindly for Mukiele at the back post. He struck the frame of the goal from a similar position earlier, but doesn't make a clean connection this time. Still, it comes to Poulsen in the centre, and the Dane tries to redirect it towards goal, but can only steer it over the bar.
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15 MORE MINUTES
There are some tired legs out there now. Will we have a winner or will it go to penalties?
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
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BREMEN LEVEL!
There appears to be little danger as Bremen try to loft a ball over the Leipzig defence, but Upamecano's back pass towards Gulacsi falls short, allowing Bittencourt to nip in, go around the goalkeeper and fire the hosts level!
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THREE ADDED MINUTES
We're almost at the halfway stage of extra time...
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ANGELINO OFF
The 24-year-old, who only recently returned from injury, is taken off. He went down with cramp in his calf a few moments ago, so Nagelsmann is taking no risks.
101'
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Benjamin Henrichs
Angeliño
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CHANGE UP TOP
Selke looks to be in some discomfort as he limps from the pitch having picked up a knock. Möhwald comes on to replace him.
96'
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Kevin Möhwald
Davie Selke
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THE BREAKTHROUGH!
Kampl slides a pass into Poulsen's feet just inside the Bremen box. He nudges it on to Hwang, who holds off his marker well before rolling the ball past Pavlenka and into the bottom corner.
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HERE WE GO AGAIN
Bremen get extra time underway after a brief hydration break,
0 - 0
Kick-off!
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INTO EXTRA TIME
Pavlenka's save was the last touch of the regulation 90 minutes, so we're going into extra time now.
90' +4
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POULSEN AGAIN!
Angelino drives a cross into the box from the left. Poulsen gets his head to it on the edge of the six-yard area, but Pavlenka pulls off a stunning save to keep it out!
90' +3
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POULSEN GOES CLOSE!
Orban loops a header into the box and Poulsen meets it at the back post. His effort bounces inches wide, though.
90' +1
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FOUR MINUTES OF STOPPAGE TIME
The final whistle is approaching. We'll be going into extra time if there's no late drama here.
90'
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Hee-Chan Hwang
Alexander Sørloth
89'
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LAST CHANCE TO WIN IT?
Orban fouls Selke, wide on the right, just outside the area, giving the home side a free-kick in a dangerous position. Augustinsson curls it into the danger zone, but a Leipzig head is able to clear.
85'
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AUDACIOUS AUGUSTINSSON
Bremen surge forward on the counter after a Leipzig attack breaks down. Augustinsson darts behind Upamecano to collect the ball and is now Bremen's furthest player forward. He has nobody to pass to so, seeing Gulacsi off his line, attempts to lob him from a long way out. He doesn't get enough power behind it though, and the Leipzig custodian saves.
82'
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ANOTHER SÖRLOTH HEADER
Another short corner from Leipzig and again the ball finds Sörloth's head. He's under a lot of pressure though and can't get any direction on his effort, and it rolls out for a goal kick.
78'
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NKUNKU HITS THE POST!
Leipzig strike the woodwork yet again! Nkunku brilliantly controls Angelino's cross from the left, taking the ball in his stride and getting a shot away all in one movement. His toe-poke is going in, but Pavlenka tips it onto the post and it bounces clear!
74'
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ATTACKING CHANGE
Leipzig also make their second substitution, with Nagelsmann bringing on Poulsen for an extra body up top. Sabitzer hands him the captain's armband as he leaves the field.
74'
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Yussuf Poulsen
Marcel Sabitzer
73'
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SECOND SUB
Mbom appears to have picked up a knock, so he's replaced in midfield by Bittencourt.
73'
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Leonardo Bittencourt
Jean-Manuel Mbom
70'
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WIDE FROM OSAKO
The Bremen attacker, who's only been on the pitch a couple of minutes, has a great chance as he times his run brilliantly to meet Augustinsson's in-swinging free-kick from the right- He gets his head on the ball, but can only direct it wide of the target.
66'
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Yuya Osako
Niclas Füllkrug
65'
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SÖRLOTH HITS THE BAR!
A short corner between Angelino and Nkunku ends with the latter crossing into the box. Sörloth rises highest and gets his head on it, but it hits the bar and bounces down. Mukiele tries to get to the rebound, but Mbom just beats him to it!
63'
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RINSE AND REPEAT
The match has settled into a familiar rhythm over the last few minutes: Leipzig attacking and Bremen defending in numbers, not allowing them in behind.
59'
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OVER FROM ANGELIO
Moisander trips Olmo just outside the Bremen penalty area, right of centre. Angelino takes the resultant free-kick with his left foot, but can't get the ball up and over the wall and down again, and his strike whistles well over the bar.
57'
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ANOTHER HEADER FROM SÖRLOTH
The big Norwegian gets his head to Sabitzer's lofted cross from the left. It's slightly behind him though, and he's under pressure from Moisander, so can't get much power behind it and Pavlenka makes a routine save.
54'
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PRESSURE BUILDING
The away side are starting to look more dangerous now that Nkunku is on the pitch, and the Frenchman is demanding the ball and trying to make something happen. Bremen are being pinned back as Leipzig begin to gather momentum.
52'
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MUKIELE HITS THE POST!
Kampl slips a pass into Mukiele's path on the overlap on the right. The wing-back unleashes a vicious shot across goal that beats Pavlenka but hits the far post and bounces clear. It wouldn't have counted had it gone in though, as the assistant referee raises his flag for offside.