Ten-man RB Leipzig lifted the German Cup at the third attempt on Saturday winning 4-2 on penalties having fought back to draw 1-1 against Freiburg after extra-time.We deserve this title! 🏆🎆 It was an intense night full of emotions! We overcome all the challenges until the ever last minute! Always believing in ourselves no matter what! 💪Thank to all your support in this journey! pic.twitter.com/x2vY8ErL8d— André Silva (@andrevsilva19) May 21, 2022 “To win with ten men says a lot about our mentality and I’m really proud. It’s great to finally get a first title” said Leipzig midfielder Emil Forsberg.Maximilian Eggestein gave Freiburg an early lead at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium before Christopher Nkunku equalised inside 90 minutes after Leipzig had Marcel Halstenberg sent off. Leipzig’s triumph comes having lost their previous German Cup final appearances to Bayern Munich in 2019, then Dortmund last season.”That’s crazy, we played 60 minutes with ten men. We’re going to party hard, this is a historic evening for us” Leipzig managing director Oliver Mintzlaff told ARD. Better than Lewandowski and Haaland! Nkunku wins the Bundesliga player of the season awardThe trophy ceremony was delayed while a person, believed to be a fan, was treated next to the pitch for a medical emergency. It is the first major title won by RB Leipzig, who are backed by energy drinks giants Red Bull and were only founded in 2009. They shot up Germany’s football pyramid with four promotions in seven years to reach the Bundesliga in 2016/17, twice finishing second to Bayern Munich in the last six years. Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco finishes his first season with a trophy having replaced Jesse Marsch last December.36 – Aged 36 years and 251 days RB Leipzig’s Domenco Tedesco is the youngest manager to win the DFB-Pokal since Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Hans-Dieter Tippenhauer in 1979 (35Y 250D). Youth. #SCFRBL #BERLIN2022 #DFBPokal @RBLeipzig_EN pic.twitter.com/5H2tx2j8Io— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) May 21, 2022 In Saturday’s shoot-out, Freiburg captain Christian Guenter, then replacement striker Ermedin Demirovic failed to convert their penalties as Leipzig nailed all four of theirs. Freiburg stamped their authority when Eggestein’s shot from outside the area rocketed past Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi on 19 minutes. Leipzig protested furiously as replays showed the ball clipped the hand of Freiburg’s Roland Sallai in the build-up but the goal stood after a VAR review. The momentum swung towards Freiburg when Halstenberg was left with his head in his hands after earning a red card by pulling the shoulder of Freiburg striker Lucas Hoeler, who was through on goal. Leipzig deserves credit for fighting back as defender Willi Orban headed a free-kick to the far post where Nkunku tapped in. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Leipzig pushed for the winner.He was supposed to be the new Klopp, but he turned out to be an utter failure – BVB sack RoseOnly a reflex save by Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken kept out a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, then Dani Olmo fired wide from close range. Freiburg replacement striker Janik Haberer had a shot palmed onto the post, then clipped the crossbar in extra time. Kevin Kampl was shown a red card on Leipzig’s bench after furiously appealing for a penalty after Freiburg’s Nicolas Hoefler tackled Dani Olmo in the area just the penalty shoot-out. This was the first time in 11 years neither Bayern Munich nor Borussia Dortmund reached the final. Bundesliga champions Bayern were dumped out after a 5-0 thrashing at Borussia Moenchengladbach in the second round last October. Dortmund, who finished runners-up in Germany’s top flight, lost 2-1 at second division St Pauli in January’s third round ties.© Agence France-Presse
