Vincenzo Grifo (C) of Freiburg celebrates scoring with his teammates during the German Cup round of 16 football match between TSG Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg in Hoffenheim, Germany, Jan. 19, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
BERLIN, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- Maximilian Beier's brace helped second-division outfit Hannover to eliminate Borussia Monchengladbach with a surprising 3-0 win from German Cup's last 16 on Wednesday.
Hannover caught a fairy-tale start on home soil and shocked Monchengladbach with the first attack in the 4th minute as Beier made the most of Henrik Weydandt's through ball from inside the box.
Monchengladbach tried to answer but Hannover goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was equal to Florian Neuhaus' dangerous effort on target in the 12th minute.
The "Foals" lacked in ideas to overcome Hannover's well-positioned defense while the hosts made it two after Sebastian Kerk converted a handball penalty into the bottom right corner in the 36th minute.
The visitors increased the pressure before the break, but Zieler was on guard and kept his side a clean sheet in the first half.
After the restart, Hannover started brightly and tripled its lead with 51 minutes played when Beier finished off a counterattack after beating custodian Yann Sommer with the outside of his foot following a Monchengladbach corner.
The lower league side continued on the front foot and should extend its lead, but the woodwork denied Beier a hat trick at the hour mark.
"Hannover secured a deserved victory today. I am of course very disappointed because we staged a weak performance. We never recovered from the early goal, but we also lacked in ideas. I am very angry that we crashed out," Borussia Monchengladbach's head coach Adi Hutter said.
"I am satisfied with my team's performance and the result. I think we worked out a deserved win," Hannover's head coach Christoph Dambrowski said.
Elsewhere, RB Leipzig progress into the quarterfinals after goals from Yussuf Poulsen and Dani Olma were enough to see off second division club Hansa Rostock 2-0.
Union Berlin overpowered local rivals Hertha Berlin 3-2 in the capital derby while Freiburg showed no mercy with Hoffenheim and snatched a 4-1 victory on the road. ■
Kevin Schade (L) of Freiburg vies with David Raum of Hoffenheim during the German Cup round of 16 football match between TSG Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg in Hoffenheim, Germany, Jan. 19, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
Vincenzo Grifo of Freiburg celebrates scoring during the German Cup round of 16 football match between TSG Hoffenheim and SC Freiburg in Hoffenheim, Germany, Jan. 19, 2022. (Photo by Ulrich Hufnagel/Xinhua)
