Drama unfolded in Berlin as SC Freiburg defeated Hertha BSC 6-5 in penalties to advance to the German Cup semifinals. Tied 1-1 after 120 pulsating minutes, Freiburg’s resilience and goalkeeper brilliance turned the tide.
Yuito Suzuki opened the scoring in spectacular fashion at the three-minute mark, silencing the home crowd. Hertha battled back fiercely—Winkler’s header skimmed the bar, and VAR nullified Reese’s apparent equalizer in a lengthy check.
Halftime approached with Freiburg defending stoutly. Scherhunt’s shots stung Ernst’s palms twice, while Muller’s acrobatic denial of Gechter’s header preserved the slender lead.
A cagey second half gave way to extra-time intensity. Suzuki struck gold again in the 96th from Gechter’s howler, only for Reese to rip one into the top corner soon after, forcing penalties.
Spot-kicks tested mental fortitude. After Küssens’ penalty was parried by Muller and Manzambi faltered for Freiburg, Suzuki nailed his second. Muller’s match-winning stop on Klemens ignited euphoria.
Freiburg links up with Leverkusen and Stuttgart in the semis. The blockbuster Bayern-Leipzig clash looms, deciding the fourth contender in Germany’s cup saga.