Five Bundesliga teams eased to the second round of the German Cup but the story of the day was Hoffenheim’s spectacular implosion at the hands of a fourth-division minnow.
Hoffenheim were bundled out of the German Cup by Berliner AK 07 4-0 in one of biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
''The manner of our exit is shocking. We could even have conceded one or two more,'' Hoffenheim coach Markus Babbel said. ''I'm stunned and speechless.''
It was the biggest margin of victory ever in the Cup for a fourth-tier side over Bundesliga opposition and will leave Hoffenheim with some explaining to do. Americans Danny Williams and Joseph Gyau did not play.
There were few other shocks on the day however, as current cup holders Borussia Dortmund had no problems with FC Oberneuland 3-0. Bayer Leverkusen, SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart and Borussia Moenchengladbach all made easy work of their opponents as well.
Aachen 0, Moenchengladbach 2: Debutant Luuk de Jong provided the assist for Igor de Camarago’s winner in a game stifled by intense heat as on-field temperatures hit 100º. Havard Nordveit provided a late capper.
Carl Zeiss Jena 0, Bayer Leverkusen 4: It was no contest in Jena as Leverkusen needed only two minutes to take the lead behind Simon Rolfes then never glanced back. Karim Bellarabi, Stefan Kiessling and Junior Fernandes all netted goals in what was an easy day out for Leverkusen.
SV Falkensee-Finkenkrug 0, VfB Stuttgart 5: Another rout as a cagey start evaporated under a barrage of goals from Vedad Ibisevic, Martin Harnik, Tunay Torun and Shinji Okazaki.
Viktoria Hamburg 1, SC Freiburg 2: It was far closer in Hamburg where Freiburg needed a late rescue from Sebastian Freis after a torrid start. Max Kruse put Freiburg in front after only ten minutes but the homers surged back 45 seconds later thanks to Jakob Sachs. Viktoria then parked the bus but Freiburg’s relentless attack paid off ten minutes before time.
Elsewhere, Hallescher were knocked out 2-1 by Duisburg and the Pirates of St. Pauli took out Offenburger FV 3-0. Koln qualified for the second round by knocking off Unterhaching 2-1 and VfL Bochum beat Heidenheim 2-0.
The German Cup rolls on tomorrow with Hannover, Hamburg, Schalke, Werder Bremen, Nuremburg, Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz all in action. Bayern Munich face tiny Jahn Regensburg on Monday.
