Berlin, March 3 (BNA): RB Leipzig qualified 4-0 in the German Football League Second Division on Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the German Cup, confirming that it is the favorite to win major titles in the end.
Christopher Nkunko scored a brace in the first half, and Konrad Laimer and Andre Silva added the other goals to the runners-up twice, according to the German news agency (dpa).
Another fantasy team thanks to a strong season is Freiburg, who reached the last four for only the second time with a last-minute 2-1 win in extra time at Bochum.
Second-tier Hamburg side missed a penalty but still recovered from two goals down to draw with Karlsruhe with 10 in stoppage time from Robert Glatzel’s double, then won 3-2 in the penalty shootout that their goalkeeper Daniel Hoyer Fernandez scored. Save two positional kicks.
Union Berlin beat St. Pauli Hamburg 2-1 on Tuesday to book their place in the semi-finals due to be tied on Sunday and played on April 19 and 20 for a place in the May 21 final at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Ex-European champions Hamburg, who won their third shootout in a row, are the only second-tier team and the only previous cup winner among the four teams to reach the semi-finals, the last success dating back to 1987.
Founded 22 years later in 2009, RB Leipzig, backed by soft drink makers Red Bull, lost last year’s final to Borussia Dortmund and the 2019 playoff to Bayern Munich.
But with the top two teams already ruled out, they are now ranked as the top contenders, and edged it out on Wednesday.
Top scorer Nkunku put the team on his way in the 17th minute with a low shot from Dani Olmo solo and made it 2-0 five minutes later after goalkeeper Ron Robert Zeller was rounded.
Hannover, the only second-tier club ever to win the tournament again in 1992 and the last-16 winner over Bayern Munich, lost a final to Laimer’s attempt at the far corner in the 67th minute. Silva wrapped things up six minutes later.
“We were completely in control and totally deserved in the semi-final,” said Leipzig midfielder Kevin Campbell, adding, “We want to make history.”
In the only Bundesliga duel of the round, Nils Petersen put Freiburg ahead by scoring in the 51st minute but Sebastian Poulter netted a goal for Bochum after 14 minutes.
And it looked like the match was headed for a penalty shoot-out when Bochum defender Maxim Leitch completely missed, allowing Roland Sly to send Freiburg into the semi-final since 2013 in the 120th minute.
It’s great to be in the semi-finals,” said Christian Gunther from Freiburg. Another game until Berlin.