Freiburg edge past Hertha Berlin on penalties on dramatic DFB Cup quarter-final in Berlin
Freiburg advanced to the DFB Cup semi-finals after beating Hertha Berlin 5-4 on penalties in the capital, edging a tense affair after they couldn't be separated with the help of extra-time.
Hertha Berlin 1 –1 Freiburg (after extra-time - Freiburg win 5-4 on penalties)
Goals: 0-1 Suzuki 96‘, 1-1 Reese 104‘
This DFB Cup quarter-final night under the lights at Berlin's historic Olympiastadion offered the home side a chance to edge closer to their dream of reaching the final in their own stadium. For Hertha and Stefan Leitl, the match represented an opportunity to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the 2015/16 season. Standing in their way were Julian Schuster's Freiburg, who were looking to recapture the form that took them to the final in 2021/22, despite struggling away from home this season.
Disallowed goal sets tone for tense first half
The hosts started brightly and thought they had taken an early lead in the 7th minute. After a short corner, Michaël Cuisance delivered a delightful cross into the box, where Julian Eitschberger's header was initially saved by Florian Müller before Fabian Reese poked home the rebound. However, celebrations were cut short as Eitschberger was ruled offside in the build-up.
As the half progressed, Freiburg grew into the game with former Hertha man Derry Scherhant twice testing Tjark Ernst from close range. The Breisgau side continued to threaten through Yuito Suzuki and Igor Matanović, but Ernst stood firm in the Hertha goal to keep the scores level at the break.
Stalemate continues through second half
The second period offered fewer clear-cut chances as both sides struggled to find the breakthrough. Hertha's best opportunity came from a Paul Seguin free-kick that found Márton Dárdai, whose header flew wide of the target. Freiburg responded by introducing Vincenzo Grifo for Scherhant just after the hour mark, and the substitute nearly made an immediate impact with a deflected effort that looped inside Ernst's post. Despite further substitutions from both managers, neither side could break the deadlock in normal time.
Extra-time brings goals at last
The match sparked to life in the first period of extra time. In the 96th minute, a calamitous error from Linus Gechter, who played a blind back-pass without looking, allowed the alert Suzuki to intercept and slot past Ernst to give Freiburg the lead. The visitors' advantage lasted just eight minutes before Reese produced a moment of magic. After Suzuki was dispossessed in midfield, the ball found its way to the Hertha winger in a central position, and he unleashed an unstoppable rocket into the top corner beyond Müller's reach. The 1-1 scoreline remained until the final whistle, sending the tie to penalties.
Shootout heartbreak for hosts
The penalty drama began with Grifo confidently converting for Freiburg, matched by Reese for Hertha. Both sides continued to convert their next two penalties, with Ginter and Maximilian Eggestein scoring for Freiburg while Luca Schuler and Josip Brekalo were successful for the hosts. The first miss came when Cuisance's effort was saved by Müller, but Hertha were handed a reprieve when Johan Manzambi's penalty was also saved by Ernst.
With the scores at 3-3, Lucas Höler put Freiburg 4-3 ahead before Seguin calmly levelled for Hertha. The decisive moment came when Suzuki converted Freiburg's fifth penalty, placing the ball between Ernst's legs, before Klemens saw his effort saved by Müller to send Freiburg into the semi-finals.
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