Back
18.08.2018DFB-Pokal

DFB Cup: Alario penalty puts Werkself through

The Werkself start the 2018/19 campaign with a win: Bayer 04 secured a 1-0 victory in the first round of the DFB Cup away to Oberliga side CfR Pforzheim. The only goal of the game was scored by Lucas Alario from the penalty spot after a foul on Sven Bender (27'). Bayer 04 also hit the bar twice with efforts from Kevin Volland (37') and Kai Havertz (72') but they made hard work of it against a capable fifth-tier team. Julian Baumgartlinger was carried off just before half-time with his left knee bandaged. The second round of the DFB Cup will be played on 30/31 October with the draw taking place on Sunday 26 August at 18.00 CET on the ARD Sportschau TV programme.
alario.jpg

“It was difficult to play football here as Pforzheim let the grass grow extra long to disrupt our passing game. But we battled our way into the game and the goal was enough to take us through,” said central defender Jonathan Tah after the match.

Bayer 04 had to manage without six players in the opening game of the season: Lukas Hradecky (draw), Panos Retsos (by), Joel Pohjanpalo (ankle), Charles Aránguiz (Achilles), Leon Bailey (cold) and Karim Bellarabi (knee) were all sidelined. There was a newcomer in the Leverkusen starting eleven with Mitchell Weiser at right back. Benny Henrichs was not in the squad with coach Heiko Herrlich bringing in another midfielder in the shape of Sam Schreck.

The Holzhof Stadium had its own unique charm: A small stand with all the nearly 5,000 standing and seated spectators just two metres away from the edge of the pitch: Football close-up and that’s only possible in the cup. Before the game, Heiko Herrlich had warned his players about the special circumstances that awaited in the sporting province. And the hosts were in no way intimidated in their match of the year. “We’re in with a shout. We can hurt any opponent and we’ll get our chances,” said the Pforzheim coach Gökhan Gökce boldly ahead of the game.

Öczan maintains clean sheet

Pforzheim lived up to their word and, a minute into the game, they made their first foray into the Bayer 04 penalty area only to be abruptly stopped by Sven Bender. His brother Lars had the first shot for the Werkself but his effort on four minutes flew high over the bar. The Werkself endeavoured to gain control and influence of the game but that proved difficult with a combination of a very unforgiving pitch and an initial absence of precision in build-up play. The home side managed to keep Leverkusen far from their goal up to the first drinks break on 20 minutes. And then they went one better: Stanley Ratifo had a great chance to open the scoring on 23 minutes but Rambo Özcan reacted brilliantly in a one-on-one eleven metres out to maintain his clean sheet.

Alario clinical from the spot

Shortly after that, the favourites took the lead. Sven Bender was brought down in the box by Akeyoshi Saito and Lucas Alario stepped up to slot in the spot-kick to make it 1-0 on 27 minutes. Kai Havertz missed the chance to double the lead five minutes later with a left-foot shot that went just wide of the far post and also a second effort just after the half-hour mark. A free kick from Volland then hit the top of the bar (37’). A bitter blow followed when Julian Baumgartlinger twisted his left knee badly in a challenge that resulted in him being carried off with a ligament injury (42’). He was replaced by Isaac Kiese Thelin just before the break.

Almost immediately after the restart, the Swede headed a Volland cross into the back of the net but the referee Frank Willenborg ruled the goal out as Kiese Thelin had allegedly fouled the Pforzheim keeper Manuel Salz in an aerial challenge in the six-yard box (48’). Julian Brandt could have made it 2-0 on the hour mark but, unmarked in front of goal, he failed to connect properly after good work by Alario and Lars Bender (62’). The game was over a minute later for the skipper after he picked up a knock and was replaced in holding midfield by Dominik Kohr.

Havertz hits underside of the bar

Then the woodwork shook twice in 20 seconds: First, Havertz received the ball from Weiser and fired a right-foot shot against the underside of the bar (72’) before Dominik Salz rounded off a counter-attack for Pforzheim with a shot against the outside of the post. Paulinho came on for Brandt (73’). Alario was unable to beat keeper Manuel Salz from close range (75’), Kiese Thelin put a header from a Weiser cross just wide of the upright and another effort from Alario went over the target (83’) – in spite of a number of good chances the cup tie ended in a narrow 1-0 win the sees the Werkself go through to the second round of the DFB Cup.

Bayer 04 are back in action on Saturday 25 August in an 18.30 CET kick-off for the first Bundesliga fixture of the season away to Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Match stats:

CfR Pforzheim: M. Salz – Borac (Oman 88’), Grupp, Citescu, Saito – Tardelli, Gudzevic (Ku. Lushtaku 88’) – Zinram, Ratifo, Kr. Lushtaku – D. Salz
Bayer 04: Özcan – Weiser, Tah, S. Bender, Wendell – L. Bender (Kohr 63’), Baumgartlinger (Kiese Thelin 45’) – Volland, Havertz, Brandt (Paulinho 73’) – Alario

Goals: 0-1 Alario (27', pen.)

Referee: Willenborg (Osnabrück)

Booked: Gudzevic, D. Salz – S. Bender, Kiese Thelin, Wendell

Attendance : 4,725

Related News

Synne Skinnes Hansen am Ball
Women - 05.10.2024

Pätzold focused on “risk management” for Women’s Monday game against Jena

Bayer 04 Women have their second straight home game as they close out Matchday 5 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga against Carl Zeiss Jena on Monday. Kick-off at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion is at 6pm CEST, with head coach Roberto Pätzold expecting a defensive-minded opponent while his team look to continue their good form.

Show more
Die PK vor dem Heimspiel gegen Holstein Kiel | 6. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 04.10.2024

Alonso head of #B04KSV: “Preparing with full respect”

Bayer 04 host Bundesliga newcomers at the BayArena for Matchday 6 on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) in a game where the club will mark its 120th anniversary with a special-edition kit. Speaking at his press conference ahead of the game, Xabi Alonso talked about how his team will approach the fixture with the right mentality and required respect for the opposition.

Show more
Werbebanner Sondertrikot 120 Jahre
Bayer 04 - 04.10.2024

No tradition since 1904 – Bayer 04 release 120th anniversary kit

The German double winners’ special-edition jersey to mark the club’s 120th anniversary is reminiscent of the first kit worn by players back in the 1907/08 season. The jersey, which the Werkself will wear for the Bundesliga home game against Holstein Kiel on Saturday, 5 October and which has been met with enthusiasm by the players, has numerous special features relating to the club's history, including an NFC chip that leads to exclusive content when scanned with a smartphone.

Show more
Holstein Kiel
Bundesliga - 04.10.2024

Our next opponents: Kiel seeking top-flight form

Bundesliga debutants Holstein Kiel come to the BayArena on Saturday, 5 October (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) looking to improve on their defensive record up against the Werkself after a tough start to the season. No team has conceded more goals so far than the promoted side. Learn more about our next opponents here…

Show more