Dusseldorf, Aug 4 (DPA) SV Hamburg flirted with disaster but Frank Rost then saved twice for a 4-1 victory on penalties over second division Fortuna Dusseldorf in the first round of the German Cup football.
Dusseldorf stunned Hamburg with a last-gasp 3-3 equaliser from Andreas Lambertz to force the shootout, but Rost then parried Sebastian Heidinger and Olivier Caillas’ spot kicks while his team-mates converted all four penalties here Monday.
Mladen Petric in the fourth minute and Piotr Trochowski in the 54th and 95th were on target ahead of the shootout for Hamburg, who lost on penalties to Werder Bremen in last season’s semis. The 1979 and 1980 cup winners Dusseldorf scored from Oliver Fink and an own goal by Jerome Boateng for a temporary 2-1 lead.
“It would have been terrible if we had lost. We conceded stupid goals and didn’t act well in the end. We have to learn from these mistakes,” said Rost.
The match completed the first round in which promoted Mainz 05 and Hanover 96 were the only top flight casualties. Cup holders Werder Bremen won 5-0 at second division Union Berlin on Sunday while mighty Bayern Munich prevailed 3-1 at sixth-division club Neckarelz.
The second round is drawn Saturday and will be played Sep 22. The final is set for May 15, 2010, in Berlin.
rounak