RBL knocked out of DFB-Pokal after 1-0 loss in Wolfsburg

Out in the second round!

After being crowned DFB-Pokal champions two years in a row, RBL have been knocked out in the second round of this year's tournament. Leipzig's 13-game winning streak in the competition came to an end following a 1-0 defeat to VfL Wolfsburg.

The Wolves looked better early on and Vaclav Cerny gave them the lead after 14 minutes, with Péter Gulácsi powerless to stop the Czech Republic international's powerful strike. Cerny almost doubled Wolfsburg's advantage soon after, but Castello Jr. was able to make a last-gasp clearance (24'). Leipzig grew into the game, but still trailed at the break.

David Raum's deflected effort cannoned off the woodwork shortly after the restart (47'). RBL were putting the hosts under the cosh before disaster struck. Yussuf Poulsen was booked for the second time in the 56th minute after a late challenge and Leipzig were down to ten men.

Despite being a man down, Leipzig kept themselves in the game and searched for an equaliser. Loïs Openda had the best chance, but his effort was just over the bar. The equaliser didn't come and RBL's 2023/24 Pokal journey came to an end in the second round.
 

DFB-Pokal | VfL Wolfsburg – RB Leipzig 

LINE-UPS

WOB: Pervan – Lacroix (C), Bornauw, Zesiger – Baku (73' Maehle), Svanberg, Vranckx (81' Arnold), Gerhardt – Cerny (65' Paredes), Kaminski (81' Majer) – Tiago Tomas (73' Wind)

RBL: Gulácsi (C) – Henrichs, Klostermann, Castello Jr. (73' Simakan), Raum – Haidara (80' Baumgartner), Schlager (73' Kampl) – Werner (73' Šeško), Simons – Openda (86' Carvalho), Poulsen

WOB bench: Schulze (GK), Cozza, Pejcinovic, Jenz

RBL bench: Blaswich (GK), Lenz, Forsberg, Seiwald

Goal

1-0 Cerny (14')

Yellow cards

Lacroix (43'), Vranckx (52'), Baku (70'), Pervan (82'), Paredes (84') | Schlager (45+2'), Castello Jr. (64'), Simakan (90+7')

Red cards

Poulsen (second yellow, 56')

Officials

• Referee: Florian Badstübner (Nürnberg)
• First assistant: Markus Schüller (Korschenbroich)
• Second assistant: Philipp Hüwe (Köln)
• Fourth official: Dr. Robin Braun (Wuppertal)

Attendance

16,000 at the Volkswagen-Arena
 

1st minute: Péte called into action early on

Wolfsburg have their first chance of the game after a matter of seconds. Mattias Svanberg plays a long ball forward to Tiago Tomas, but Péter Gulácsi is there to deny the Spaniard.
 

9th minute: Openda fires just wide!

Close! Loïs Openda turns his man, picks up the ball and makes a beeline for the Wolfsburg box. He shoots from about 18 yards out, but it goes wide of the goal.
 

14th minute: Wolfsburg take the lead

The hosts break away quickly on the counter. Tiago Tomas plays a clever pass to put Vaclav Cerny through on goal and the Czech makes no mistake, bursting past Castello Jr. before smashing the ball into the top-left corner.
 

24th minute: Castello Jr. to the rescue!

Vaclav Cerny has the chance to double Wolfsburg’s lead after a miscommunication at the back. He manages to lift the ball over Gulacsi despite stumbling, but Castello Jr. is there to save the day, diverting the ball away from goal.
 

35th minute: Gulasci denies Wolfsburg again

There’s danger in the Leipzig box after a Wolfsburg corner. Benjamin Henrichs heads the ball away and it lands at Cerny’s feet on the edge of the box. The Czech Republic international lets fly, but Gulasci has no trouble dealing with his attempt.
 

47th minute: Raum hits the woodwork!

Both teams are unchanged at the start of the second half. RBL looked good at the end of the first half and continue in the same vein after the restart, as David Raum’s deflected effort hits the bar.
 

56th minute: Poulsen sees red

RBL go down to ten men. Yussuf Poulsen receives his second yellow after a late challenge in midfield.
 

71st minute: Openda fires over

Despite being a man down, RBL aren’t beaten yet and are looking to keep the pressure on Wolfsburg. Openda gets on the end of a free kick but can’t keep the ball down.
 

83rd minute: RBL keep pushing

The game has fizzled out, even though RBL need an equaliser in the next few minutes. There haven’t been any big chances for either team since Openda blazed over the bar