RB Leipzig wins DFB-Pokal through penalty shootout

DBasia.news – RB Leipzig was crowned DFB-Pokal champion after they defeatedFreiburg 4-2 in the final through a penalty shootout on Sunday (22/5).

In the match held at Berlin’s Olympiastadion last night, the two teams drew 1-1 for 120 minutes, with Leipzig trailing in the 19th minute following Max Eggestein’s goal and their struggle due to defender Marcel Halstenberg receiving a red card early in the second half.

Leipzig were finally able to equalize 14 minutes before normal time ended through Christopher Nkunku before the duel continued into extra time.

Meanwhile, in this period, Leipzig lost another player as Kevin Kampl received his second yellow card in the 118th minute, but they managed to hold on and forced a penalty shootout.

And at that crucial moment, two of Freiburg’s executioners failed, while all four of Leipzig’s kickers successfully carried out their duties to then wrap up the DFB-Pokal trophy.

This is the first DFB-Pokal trophy for RB Leipzig in the club’s history and they are the 26th different club to lift this trophy.

At 36 years and 251 days, Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco became the youngest manager to win the DFB-Pokal since Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer with Fortuna Dusseldorf in 1979 (35 years and 250 days).

Freiburg are the first team to fail to win the DFB-Pokal final after winning in the first round, considering that the previous 12 teams have always won.

Victory in this final was sweet for Leipzig as they had always failed in their last two peak matches in this event.

Leipzig themselves ended as DFB-Pokal runners-up in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 events yesterday, with them losing to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

After this, Leipzig can be more confident to continue their ambition to become a strong team in Germany even though it has not been formed for some time.