The only thing that really counts – the VfB are through to the second round of the DFB-Cup! In the first competitive game of the season, not all went according to plan for the Cannstatt Boys against ‘Regionalliga’ leaders Energie Cottbus. With 28 minutes on the clock, the Bundesliga side were trailing by 0-2, but then showed a display of determination, moral and an element of luck to make it 2-2 and force the game into extra-time. From the penalty-spot, four of five VfB takers converted and duly secured the victory.
Personnel
The unavailability of several players, including Emiliano Insua, Holger Badstuber, Dennis Aogo and Anto Grgic, who didn’t even make the trip to Cottbus, there was a further absentee for the coach to compensate for, when central defender Timo Baumgartl suffered a slight concussion during the final pre-match training session and had to sit out the cup clash.
| 5th minute | The game could hardly get off to a worse start, as VfB go behind after just five minutes. On Energie’s first approach to the VfB box, Dzenis Burnic cuts out the break and looks to clear the danger with a back-pass to Ron-Robert Zieler. The pass eludes the VfB keeper and rolls directly into the run of Cottbus' Fabio Viteritti, who slots into the empty net from close range. |
| 12th minute | VfB are unperturbed by the early goal and immediately take control of proceedings, creating the first good opening of their own. Chadrac Akolo takes on a pass on the edge of the box and lays square for Takuma Asano. The Japanese international lets fly, but is denied by the width of the crossbar. |
| 28th minute | In a high-tempo tie, VfB initially have the better of the play and have chances to take the lead through Christian Gentner (21’) and Josip Brekalo (22’), but are unable to make them count. At the same time, the Wasenelf had to be wary of quick Cottbus counter-attacks. The host’s second goal was to be scored from a set-piece: Maximilian Zimmer fires in a free-kick from 20 meters out directly under the bar – no chance for Ron-Robert Zieler. |
| 49th minute | Some great play by Josip Brekalo to put VfB back in the running: The 19 year old goes on a mazy solo run from the left, leaving several opponents trailing behind him, before firing into the far corner from 17 meters out – 1-2. |
| 77th minute | An own-goal by Cottbus` José-Junior Matuwila sees the visitors back on level terms – 2-2. |
| 120th minute | The last chance of the game falls to Cottbus, but Björn Ziegenbein puts his free-kick effort just the wrong side of the far post. |
| 0-1 | Simon Terodde fires powerfully into the right corner. |
| 1-1 | Fabio Viteritti levels low to the right. |
| 1-2 | Daniel Ginczek drives the ball into the top right corner. |
| 2-2 | Marc Stein converts to the left. |
| 2-3 | Benjamin Pavard leaves Alexander Meyer without a chance, placing the ball in the left corner. |
| 3-3 | Lasse Schlüter scores to the left. |
| 3-4 | Josip Brekalo sends the Energie keeper the wrong way and converts to the right. |
| 3-4 | Björn Ziegenbein fires against the left post. |
| 3-4 | Alexander Meyer saves from Berkay Özcan. |
| 3-4 | Benjamin Försterdrives his spot-kick wide of the left post. |
Hannes Wolf:
We can consider ourselves fortunate to still be playing in the DFB-Cup. We will then have players returning who missed out on the Cottbus match – that will help us.
Summary
Simon Terodde hit the nail on the head after the match. "We didn’t necessarily deserve to progress here today," commented the striker critically, whilst adding: "but that doesn’t make any difference." The game against Energie Cottbus did however make it clear to the Cannstatt Boys that there is work to be done ahead of next weekend’s Bundesliga opener at Hertha BSC – although the moral display in bouncing back from 0-2 is undoubtedly in place. In the end, it was the individual class Josip Brekalo in making it 1-2, along with some good VfB penalty takers, along with a portion of luck, which saw the Wasenelf get the job done and prove successful in a game which was anything but convincing over long periods.
