BIELEFELD, Germany — In a thrilling matchup, third-division team Arminia Bielefeld advanced to the German Cup semifinals after defeating Bundesliga side Werder Bremen 2-1 on Tuesday. The quarterfinal clash saw fans at Bielefelder Alm stadium erupt in excitement when Sam Schreck appeared to secure a third goal in stoppage time with a counterattack. However, the goal was disallowed after a VAR review due to a foul in the build-up.
Despite this temporary setback, the supporters didn’t have long to wait for their celebrations, as Bielefeld managed to secure its victory against a third top-tier team on their path to the cup’s final four. Prior to this triumph, Bielefeld had already ousted second-tier Hannover and subsequently knocked out Bundesliga contenders Union Berlin and Freiburg.
Bielefeld’s goalkeeper, Jonas Kersken, expressed the team’s disbelief at their achievement, stating, “Incredible. Indescribable. I don’t think any of us have realized it yet.” The team, which faced relegation from the Bundesliga in 2022, followed by another drop in division, has shown remarkable performance in the cup tournament this season.
Werder Bremen, on the other hand, entered the match following a disheartening 5-0 loss to Freiburg in the Bundesliga and was further challenged when their forward, Marvin Ducksch, withdrew early after sustaining an injury. Things went from bad to worse for Bremen when Marius Wörl capitalized on Bremen right-back Julián Malatini’s mistake, striking a stunning shot that ricocheted in off the far post.
The unfortunate Malatini then inadvertently scored an own goal merely six minutes later, when he attempted to intercept a cross from Stefano Russo but instead deflected the ball into his own net. Responding at halftime, Bremen coach Ole Werner introduced Leonardo Bittencourt and Oliver Burke, with Bittencourt assisting Burke’s goal that got Bremen back into the match in the 56th minute. Nevertheless, Bremen could not find the equalizer.
With this victory, Arminia Bielefeld joins defending champions Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart in the competition’s semifinals. The last spot will be contested by Leipzig and Wolfsburg, who are set to face off on Wednesday.
