In one of the most anticipated second-round ties of the 2025-26 DFB-Pokal, Eintracht Frankfurt hosted Borussia Dortmund, with 120 minutes of football failing to separate the sides. After a 1-1 draw, Dortmund advanced 4-2 on penalties, thanks to heroics from goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

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Frankfurt Strikes Early

Despite Dortmund pressing aggressively from the start, Frankfurt opened the scoring in the 7th minute. Former Dortmund player Mario Götze threaded a defense-splitting pass to Ansgar Knauff, who calmly finished to put the hosts ahead.

Frankfurt continued to create chances, with Farès Chaïbi hitting the back post from an offside position and Ritsu Dōan forcing saves from Kobel. Arthur Theate’s long-range effort was also comfortably dealt with, ensuring Frankfurt maintained a 1-0 lead at halftime.

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Dortmund Respond in Second Half

Three minutes into the second half, Dortmund equalized. After slick build-up play, Jude Bellingham found Julian Ryerson, who set up Julian Brandt for a simple tap-in to level the score at 1-1.

Despite chances for both sides—including a thunderous crossbar strike from Dōan—the match remained deadlocked, pushing the game into extra time.

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Extra Time Drama and Penalty Shoot-Out

Extra time offered limited clear opportunities. Frankfurt thought they scored a late winner through Burkardt, but VAR ruled him offside. Dortmund’s attempt from Schlotterbeck was saved by Frankfurt goalkeeper Zetterer.

The game went to penalties, a high-pressure scenario in a knockout fixture. Dōan missed Frankfurt’s second spot-kick, and Kobel saved Chaïbi’s attempt, securing a 4-2 shoot-out win for Dortmund.

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Match Takeaways

• Gregor Kobel: Key figure for Dortmund, saving crucial penalties to ensure victory.
• Bellingham & Brandt: Combined effectively for Dortmund’s equalizer.
• Frankfurt: Showed resilience and attacking threat but fell short in shoot-out pressure moments.

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Next Steps: Dortmund advance to the third round of the DFB-Pokal, while Frankfurt’s cup run comes to an end. The win provides a morale boost for coach Niko Kovač’s side as they balance domestic league and cup competitions.