Kennet Eichhorn (r.) made history in Berlin as the DFB Cup's youngest goalscorer. - © IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

2. Bundesliga

Hertha Berlin and Kennet Eichhorn make history to oust Kaiserslautern from DFB Cup

02.12.2025

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.

Luca Schuler provided plenty of headaches for the Red Devils once again. - IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

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

DFB Pokal
Round of 16 Round of 16 Olympiastadion

Full-time: Hertha 6-1 Kaiserslautern

What a night for the hosts, who storm into the DFB Cup quarter-finals after a superb, high-scoring win against their Bundesliga 2 rivals Kaiserslautern. On a an evening when Kennet Eichhorn made history as the competition's - and Hertha's - youngest-ever goalscorer, Luca Schuler also hit a double to ensure his formidable run against the Red Devils continued.

87'

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'

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'

And another ...

Another Hertha sub gets on the scoresheet as Bayern Munich loanee Krattenmacher slams a shot past the despairing Simoni.

79'

Maurice Krattenmacher

GOAL!

6:1

75'

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.

75'

Dawid Kownacki

GOAL!

5:1

72'

Substitution

Maurice Krattenmacher

Fabian Reese

71'

Substitution

Dawid Kownacki

Luca Schuler

69'

No way through

Skyttä is first to reach a visiting corner, but the Finn can't direct the ball on target.

Home fans thrilled

There is an air of inevitability surrounding the outcome of this last 16 tie now, as the Hertha fans bang their drums while their team ping the ball about confidently down below.

62'

Substitution

Faride Alidou

Dickson Abiama

61'

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.

61'

Luca Schuler

GOAL!

4:1

57'

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'

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'

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'

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'

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'

Defensive swap

The visitors introduce Leon Robinson for the second half.

46'

Substitution

Leon Robinson

Jan Elvedi

46'

Back underway

Hertha get the second-half going ...

Half-time: Hertha 3-1 Kaiserslautern

The Old Lady were cruising towards the quarter-finals after goals form Luca Schuler, Marten Winkler and history maker Kennet Eichhorn had the Olympiastadion dancing. However, Marlon Ritter's strike right before the break has given Kaiserslautern a sniff. This tie is not over yet.

45'

+ 2

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'

+ 2

Marlon Ritter

GOAL!

3:1

45'

Gyamfi booked

Poor Gyamfi's miserable first half is complete after the referee flashes a yellow card in the defender's direction.

45'

Yellow card

Maxwell Gyamfi

43'

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'

Winkler down

The Hertha man takes a clearance straight to the face and needs treatment.

Last eight in sight

The hosts will take some stopping from here, particularly as they look like scoring whenever they storm forward. Kaiserslautern will be all too aware that tonight's hosts haven't conceded in their last six games in all competitions.

33'

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'

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'

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.

30'

Kennet Eichhorn

GOAL!

3:0

29'

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'

Skyttä booked

A poor challenge from the Finn on Kolbe and that'll be a yellow card.

26'

Yellow card

Naatan Skyttä

23'

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'

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.

20'

Marten Winkler

GOAL!

2:0

Top entertainment

Fans of Bundesliga 2 will already know that the division is one of Europe's most entertaining and this Pokal game has been a fabulous advertisement for Germany's second-tier. We've had a goal, plenty of incident and action and a blistering atmosphere to boot and not yet 20 minutes on the clock.

13'

Dárdai booked

The Hertha man catches Ritter late and goes into the referee's notebook.

13'

Yellow card

Márton Dárdai

10'

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.

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.

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.

Luca Schuler

GOAL!

1:0

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.

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.

Away we go!

Kaiserslautern - in red shorts and white shorts - get this eliminator underway.

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.

More on that Hertha team

Stefan Leitl makes two changes to the side that beat Holstein Kiel at the weekend. Kolbe replaces the suspended Zeefuik, while Leistner is preferred to Karbownik in central defence.

More on that Kaiserslautern team

Torsten Lieberknecht makes three alterations to the Kaiserslautern side beaten 2-0 at Eintracht Braunschweig in Bundesliga 2. Simoni, Kleinhansl and Gyamfi come in, replacing Krahl, Haas and Robinson.

Hertha starting XI

Ernst - Gechter, Leistner, Dardai, Kolbe - Seguin, Eichhorn - Reese (c), Cuisance, Winkler - Schuler

Hertha subs

Gersbeck, Eitschberger, Karbownik, Demme, Krattenmacher, Sessa, Grönning, Kownacki, Thorsteinsson

Kaiserslautern starting XI

Simoni - Sirch, Gyamfi, Elvedi - Abiama, Kunze, Şahin, Kleinhansl - Skyttä, Ritter (c) - Prtajin

Kaiserslautern subs

Krahl, Haas, Aremu, Hofmeister, Raschl, Robinson, Alidou, Hanslik, Tachie

Kaiserslautern team news

French right-back Paul Joly recently joined a lengthy injury list for Kaiserslautern that includes Mahir Emreli, Jisoo Kim, Kenny Prince Redondo and Simon Asta, but Maxwell Gyamfi is available after missing Saturday's defeat at Eintracht Braunschweig through suspension

Hertha team news

John Anthony Brooks and Leon Jensen remain sidelined through injury and Deyovaisio Zeefuik will miss Tuesday's tie through suspension, but Maurice Krattenmacher, Niklas Kolbe und Luca Schuler have all recovered from knocks and Diego Demme is also available after missing the victory over Holstein Kiel.

Stefan Leitl on facing Kaiserslautern

"Kaiserslautern are an absolutely top-level team in the second division. We saw how difficult the match there was and we know how difficult it can be now. But this time, it’s a different competition and a different approach. Both teams have to win in order to advance."

Torsten Lieberknecht on facing Hertha

"Our opponents will do everything they can to get through this round and to make their big dream of a home final come true. We saw Hertha’s strengths [when we last faced them], which particularly came into play when we forgot to maintain good defensive cover during our attackings. At the same time, we saw that we were playing against a team we were on equal footing with."

2:14

Watch: Holstein Kiel 0-1 Hertha Berlin - highlights

Hertha, meanwhile, leapfrogged their midweek guests by beating Kiel and moving to within one point of the top-three.

2:14

Watch: Braunschweig 2-0 Kaiserslautern - highlights

It was far from perfect preparation for Lautern at the weekend as they slipped to seventh after being beaten 2-0 by lowly Eintracht Braunschweig.

Hertha hopfeful

The Old Lady's 1-0 win at Kiel on Saturday was their sixth consecutive success in all competitions - without conceding a single goal - propelling them into the Bundesliga 2 promotion picture.

Lautern looking to build

Torsten Lieberknecht's side have only won of their last four, but are still in the promotion hunt in seventh place after a strong start to the season. They would not mind another cup run after losing to Leverkusen in the 2023/24 final.

2:14

Watch: Kaiserslautern 0-1 Hertha Berlin

Luca Schuler scored the winner when the sides clashed in Bundesliga 2 in early November.

Kaiserslautern - the story so far

Die Roten Teufel are still yet to play a DFB Cup game at home this season. In the first round, they downed fifth-tier RSV Eintracht 7-0 on the road, before edging past Greuther Fürth 1-0 in the second round thanks to Naatan Skyttä's early winner.

Hertha - the story so far

The Berlin outfit eeked out a win on penalties (5-3) away to Preußen in the first round after going the full 120 minutes without scoring before claiming an emphatic 3-0 win over Elversberg thanks to goals from Michaël Cuisance, Sebastian Grönning, and Jon Thorsteinsson.

Welcome!

Welcome and thank you for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the DFB Cup Round of 16 match between Hertha Berlin and Kaiserslautern. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. CET on Tuesday.