Last-minute Forsberg header sends Leipzig to DFB-Pokal final!
Leipzig turn around one-goal deficit to beat Union Berlin 2-1 | Becker opens scoring in first half, Silva and Forsberg score after the break | Third DFB-Pokal final in RBL history | Record attendance in Red Bull Arena
RB Leipzig reach the final of the DFB-Pokal for the third time in club history! In front of a record crowd of 47,069 fans at the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig overcame a one-goal deficit to turn the game around and beat 1. FC Union Berlin 2-1. Sheraldo Becker gave the guests the lead in the 25th minute. André Silva (61’) and Emil Forsberg with a header (90’+2) responded in the second half to send Leipzig back to the final in Berlin, where they will meet SC Freiburg on 21 May.
Leipzig started the game well and enjoyed more of the possession, with Union sitting deep in their own half and looking to make it difficult for Domenico Tedesco's side to break them down. In attack, the guests looked to pose their biggest threat on the counter attack and from set pieces and had their first chance of the game from a corner. Grischa Prömel tried his luck in the 15th minute but could not beat Péter Gulácsi. Ten minutes later however, the ball was in the back of the net. On the counter, Christopher Trimmel delivered a perfect cross to the back post, where Sheraldo Becker finished first time (25’). The guests stood strong at the back and RBL were forced to work hard for their chances. Some good and patient interplay saw Tedesco’s side fashion out a big chance for themselves when Benjamin Henrichs found André Silva in the area, but the forward missed the target from close range (37’).
RBL found the right response in the second half. Just three minutes after the restart, Willi Orbán went close but saw his header just wide to the right. The guests were happy to allow Leipzig control possession as they sat back and looked for the counter attacks, but their passing often lacked accuracy on their quick transitions. In the 59th minute, Christopher Nkunku got on the end of a pass behind the defence and was brought to ground by Paul Jaeckel. After a VAR check, referee Felix Brych pointed to the spot. André Silva stepped up and converted the penalty to level the game (61’). Immediately after the goal, Domenico Tedesco made his first change of the game, introducing the would-be match winner, Emil Forsberg. With the game looking to be headed to extra time, Angeliño saw his shot blocked on the goal line (90’+2). RBL kept their foot on the gas and were rewarded: a fantastic cross from Benjamin Henrichs was met by a brilliant header by Forsberg to send Leipzig back to the capital for their second successive DFB-Pokal final!
Statistics:
RB LEIPZIG:
Gulácsi – Simakan, Orbán, Gvardiol (90' Halstenberg) - Henrichs, Laimer, Olmo, Angeliño - Szoboszlai (62' Forsberg) - Silva (90' Poulsen), Nkunku
Unused subs: Martínez, Adams, Mukiele, Raebiger, Novoa, Kampl
1. FC Union Berlin:
Rönnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl - Trimmel, Khedira, Prömel, Oczipka - Haraguchi (64' Schäfer) - Awoniyi (77' Michel), Becker (77' Voglsammer)
Unused subs: Busk, Gießelmann, Heintz, Ryerson, Möhwald, Behrens
REFEREE:
Dr. Felix Brych (Munich)
YELLOW CARDS:
Laimer (35'), Simakan (90'+3) - Khedira (80'), Michel (90'+3)
GOALS:
1-1 Silva (61', penalty), 2-1 Forsberg (90'+2) - 0-1 Becker (25')
ATTENDANCE:
47,069 | Red Bull Arena
First half highlights:
1st minute:
Underway at the Red Bull Arena. Let's go, RB Leipzig!
5th minute:
RBL are enjoying possession of the ball, with the guests happy to sit back and pounce on the counter.
11th minute:
Szoboszlai receives a ball from Silva and shoots, but pulls his shot across the face of goal.
15th minute:
Double chance for Union! A corner is played into the area and Prömel shoots along the ground from close range. Gulácsi saves but can’t hold it, and the rebound effort from a narrow angle is into the side netting.
19th minute:
Oczipka brings Henrichs down in the penalty area, but luckily for the visitors, the offside flag was up.
25th minute, goal for Union:
Trimmel has space on the right and plays a great low cross towards the back post, where Sheraldo Becker finishes past Gulácsi with a first time shot. The away side lead 1-0.
31st minute:
Olmo shoots from outside the area but Rönnow saves.
37th minute:
That could have been the equaliser! Some brilliant Leipzig interplay in the final third ends with Henrichs playing the ball across the area to André Silva, who shoots first time. His effort doesn’t hit the target and goes wide to the right of the bottom corner. RBL’s best chance of the game so far!
45th minute:
Christo attacks down the right side and crosses towards André in the area, but Rönnow is out and gets to the ball ahead of him.
Half time:
Halfway through regular time and Union have the lead. Work to do in the second half!
Second half highlights:
46th minute:
45 minutes to put it right!
48th minute:
Benny crosses from the right and the ball finally lands with Willi Orban. His header misses the target narrowly to the right of the goal.
54th minute:
Union counter attack down the right. Becker crosses into the area towards Awoniyi but the ball doesn’t find its target.
55th minute:
Olmo shoots from outside the area. His effort is central and Rönnow only has to look out for the bounce. He makes no mistake
57th minute:
Union counter attack down the right. Becker gets into the area and cuts onto his right before hitting a pass/shot towards the far post. Awoniyi gets there but can’t turn the ball goalwards from a narrow angle. The visitors’ counter game is still a big threat!
59th minute, penalty for Leipzig:
Christo goes down after a challenge from Jaeckel. Our number 18 had got on the wrong side of the Union defender and referee Brych points to the spot after checking the pitchside monitor.
61st minute, GOAL for Leipzig!
Silva steps up and smashes the ball centrally, with Rönnow diving to the left. Level again!
62nd minute:
Szoboszlai comes off and is replaced by Forsberg.
69th minute:
Nothing in it! RBL continue to dominate possession, with Union staying compact and looking to attack in transition. It could go either way here!
71st minute:
Awoniyi receives a deep ball. Orbán defends him well and forces the forward onto his weaker left foot. He shoots and sends the ball harmlessly wide of the goal.
73rd minute:
Henrichs attacks dep down the right hand side and crosses back towards the box. Forsberg shoots on the volley but sends it wide of the post..
77th minute:
Double change for Union: Becker and Awoniyi are off, Voglsammer and Michel come on.
90th minute:
Double change for Leipzig: Halstenberg and Poulsen come on for Gvardiol and Silva.
92nd minute, GOOOOAAAL for Leipzig:
YESSS!!! A period of pressure from RBL sees Union pinned in their own half. Angeliño’s shot is cleared off the line at the back post by Baumgart. Leipzig pick up possession and patiently spread the ball around, before Benny Henrichs crosses into the penalty area from the right to Forsberg, who heads into the back of the net. 2-1 to RBL!
Full time:
RBL win! A 2-1 win over Union Berlin and RBL are into the DFB-Pokal final!