12:00 Pokal Kickoffs: Gladbach complete comeback, Fürth swipe Schott Mainz aside

Saturday’s Pokal action kicked off with Borussia Mönchengladbach making the trip to Erzgebirge Aue, while Regionalliga Südwest side Schott Mainz welcomed Greuther Fürth.

Erzgebirge Aue 1 – Bor. Mönchengladbach 3

It was an extremely lively start from the 3.Liga hosts who sprung an early surprise on the five-time Bundesliga champions. Borys Tashchy raced down the left wing, and despite Joe Scally’s best attempt to foul, the Ukranian crossed for Mika Clausen to volley home. 

Gladbach eventually started to boss proceedings with Kevin Stöger looking menacing. Not long after the half-hour mark and Franck Honorat levelled it at 1-1. The Frenchman’s first attempt met Barylla, but a beautiful overhead kick reply was simply unstoppable. Julian Weigl could have completed the first-half comeback, only for Martin Männel’s fingertips to deny him from the penalty spot.

Shortly after the interval, Gladbach made the hosts pay. Clausen lost possession, allowing Pléa and Reitz to combine and slip in Luca Netz. The promising full-back fired into the lower right corner spectacularly after evading Burghardt’s challenge. Alassane Pléa got in on the act himself in the 70th-minute. He picked out the bottom left corner to ease any fears of a cup upset, as Gladbach advance to the next round.

TSV Schott Mainz 0 – Greuther Fürth 2

The favourites from the 2.Bundesliga broke the deadlock in the 8th-minute. Jomaine Consbruch looked to play in Roberto Massimo, however the winger was denied by TSV shot stopper Robin Balters. Fortunately for Die Kleeblätter, Denis Srbeny picked up the loose ball to rattle the net.

In a bid to keep their Pokal dreams alive, Schott Mainz threw numbers forward as the match neared full-time. The plucky underdogs were eventually punished on the counter attack. Branimir Hrgota pinched the pockets of Gans to release Massimo. The ex-Stuttgart man squared unselfishly for fellow new signing, Marlon Mustapha who was afforded a routine tap in.