Freiburg Edge Hertha Berlin on Penalties, Reach DFB-Pokal Semis

Freiburg beat Hertha 5-4 on penalties, make DFB-Pokal semi-finals

Freiburg secured a spot in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, beating Hertha Berlin 5-4 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw.

The match ended dramatically, with Cuisance's late chance flying wide, sending it to penalties...

Freiburg secured a spot in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals, beating Hertha Berlin 5-4 on penalties after the match ended goalless. The win marks their third semi-final appearance in five seasons.

Hertha Berlin had early chances, with Marten Winkler's header just wide in the 4th minute.

A Fabian Reese goal was ruled out after a VAR check spotted an offside in the build-up. Freiburg pushed on, creating a chance through Derry Scherhant, whose close-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Tjark Ernst.

Freiburg continued to threaten, with Scherhant's strike testing Ernst's skills. 

Freiburg, the 2022 DFB-Pokal runners-up, dominated possession in the second half, with Scherhant and Suzuki creating chances. Both teams were keen to win in regulation time, making for an intense match.

The second half was slow to start, with defenses holding strong. 

Die Alte Dame had not recorded a home win in over two months, but they did well to limit the threat of a Freiburg side who had lost their mojo somewhat after a promising first-half display.

Six of the last seven H2H meetings between the sides had seen at least three goals scored, but this latest encounter didn’t look like providing similar entertainment as the tie headed to extra time.

It always felt like a mistake would be the likeliest cause of the opening goal, and this was exactly how it unfolded. An underweighted pass back to the goalkeeper from Linus Gechter was intercepted by Suzuki, who rounded Ernst before slotting the ball home from close range to send the travelling Freiburg 

supporters wild.

An equaliser appeared unlikely given the hosts’ struggles in front of goal; however, just before the break, a 25-yard piledriver from Reese flew past the despairing Florian Muller to bring the home side back level.

The match ended dramatically, with Cuisance's late chance flying wide, sending it to penalties. Freiburg took control of the shootout, with Muller saving Cuisance's spot kick.

Hertha needed Ernst to step up, and he duly did to thwart Johan Manzabi and allow Josip Brekalo to make it level pegging once more. Lucas Holer was successful from 12 yards to pile the pressure on Paul Seguin, but he made no mistake to send the shoot-out to sudden death.

His effort proved in vain, however, as after Suzuki made it 6-5, Pascal Klemens was denied by Muller, moving Freiburg into the last four.