Dortmund triumphs in the penalty thriller: Frankfurt misses the DFB Cup round of 16!

Dortmund triumphs in the penalty thriller: Frankfurt misses the DFB Cup round of 16!

In an exciting DFB Cup game on October 29, 2025, Borussia Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt 4-2 on penalties. In front of 59,300 enthusiastic spectators, the match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular and additional 120 minutes. Ansgar Knauff gave the home team the lead in the 7th minute, but Julian Brandt equalized for Dortmund shortly after halftime (48th minute). This elimination was particularly bitter for Eintracht as they were not represented in the round of 16 for the first time in four years. World reports that Dortmund coach Niko Kovac, who used to work in Frankfurt, can be happy about the narrow victory.

However, Dortmund's road to success was rocky. In the first half, Frankfurt's strong counterattacking game dominated the action. Things got serious for Dortmund at the latest when Ritsu Doan hit the post shortly before the end of regular time. It wasn't until the 115th minute that Dortmund saw the goal in danger again: a goal from Jonathan Burkardt was disallowed for offside, which was a huge disappointment for Frankfurt. In the penalty shootout it was then up to Fares Chaibi to award the decisive penalty and thus enable Dortmund to advance to the round of 16. ZDF captured the details of the exciting game.

Game progression and tactics

Dortmund were without defender Ramy Bensebaini, forcing coach Niko Kovac to adapt his tactics. Maximilian Beier was in attack while Serhou Guirassy sat on the bench. In the first 12 competitive games of the season, Dortmund only lost once, which gave the team confidence heading into this difficult game. After halftime, Dortmund seemed to dominate the game, but Frankfurt stayed in the game with dangerous counterattacks.

The jump to the round of 16 could only be secured through strong team play and the good performance of goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who acted as a reliable support both during the game and in the penalty shootout. Both teams gave each other nothing and gave the fans a thrilling duel. World highlights the remarkable performance of both teams and sees Kovac as the key to this success.

Eintracht Frankfurt: A bitter end

For Eintracht Frankfurt, elimination from the DFB Cup is a hard setback. Coach Dino Toppöller now not only has to analyze the missed opportunity, but also think about how the focus can be returned to the league. Frankfurt, with a strong start to the season, must now ask themselves how they can regain the form to get fans excited for the challenges ahead.

The substitutions of players, such as the introduction of Skhiri and Uzun in the second half, showed Frankfurt's willingness to turn the tide. But despite all efforts, the big goal of advancing in the cup remained unattainable.

Overall, one thing can be said: With this victory, Borussia Dortmund not only qualified for the round of 16, but also gained self-confidence for the upcoming tasks in the league. This will certainly be an exciting time for all football fans in the region.](https://www.welt.de/sport/article6900d8b44876ac87d158ce4a/dfb-pokal-zwei-rechte-geile-erlebnisse-dortmund-siegt-in-frankfurt-im-elfmeterschiessen.html)