Germany: DFB Pokal
Stadion im BORUSSIA-PARK0-1
By Peter Vice
In a year in which the, thanks to Bayern’s elimination, the DFB Pokal remains wide-open, Borussia Dortmund took a huge step toward the crown with a deserved punch through to the semi-finals.
Jadon Sancho’s goal proved the difference against Borussia Mönchengladbach as Edin Terzic beat future boss Marco Rose in a DFB-Quarterfinal tie. Rose promised squad rotations ahead of the fixture and proved a man of his word. Seven new players took to the pitch for the foals. Terzic, by contrast, simply opted for Thomas Delaney over Giovanni and ran a straightforward 4-1-4-1.
BVB left back Raphaël Guerreiro incurred injury early and had to be subbed off for German international Nico Schulz in the fifth minute. The Schwarzgelben seemed to have difficulty adjusting to the loss of their buccaneering fullback and managed little of note in the first-half. Their opponents were similarly weak, however, and the opening 45 saw the ball stuck in a compressed midfield.
Marcus Thuram thought he had netted the opening goal at 45+2, but the tally was called back when it was revealed that he had been slightly offside. Erling Haaland also had a goal disallowed seven minutes after the restart. Replays confirmed that he had fouled Gladbach defender Ramy Bensebaini prior to receiving the ball.
Benseibaini himself nearly scored sic minutes later, but keeper Marwin Hitz stood tall to deflect his thunderous effort aside. Finally, the deadlock was broken in the 66th. A superb counterattack ended with Marco Reus servicing Sancho. The young Englishman put forward a delicate effort that found the back of the net with a little help from the inside post.
A triple substitution from Rose did little to alter the tenor of the match. Dortmund came much closer to doubling their advantage than the foals came to an equalizer. At the end of the day, the BVB earned a much deserved victory. Mahmoud Dahoud earned a second yellow, and thereby a suspension for the next round, in a late scuffle at 90+3.
