Sensational upset in the DFB-Pokal

On Tuesday evening, Arminia Bielefeld eliminated SC Freiburg from the DFB-Pokal with a sensational 3-1 victory at the SchücoArena.

Despite the fact that this was a Bundesliga fixture just three seasons ago, heading into the tie, 32 league positions separated the two sides.

The hosts, Arminia, currently reside in the 3. Liga, sitting in the promotion playoff spot behind Dynamo Dresden and Energie Cottbus.

While Freiburg find themselves sixth in Germany’s top tier, occupying a Europa Conference League qualification spot.

Therefore, Julian Schuster’s side were undoubtedly heavy favourites prior to kick-off, in spite of Bielefeld’s previous cup heroics, having already eliminated Hannover 96 and Union Berlin.

18 minutes into the tie, Freiburg appeared ready to take control over the tie as Florent Muslija stepped up to the penalty spot.

However, Jonas Kersken in the Bielefeld goal would deny the 26-year-old before the game took an unexpected turn as Christopher Lannert’s spectacular strike placed the hosts in the lead.

Julian Kania would then do what Muslija could not and convert from twelve yards, as Bielefeld ran into a 2-0 lead.

Michael Gregoritsch’s second-half strike would be cancelled out by a Louis Oppie thunderbolt as the third-division side performed their third miracle of the DFB-Pokal this season.

The quarter-finals now await Bielefeld, who look to replicate 1. FC Saarbrücken’s run to the semi-finals last season.

Nevertheless, the bonus of more than €1.6 million for advancing past the round of 16 will undeniably be just as important a factor for the club.

GGFN | Will Shopland