DFB-Pokal Review: Doan Debut Delight for Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt and SC Paderborn join the second round of the cup after comfortable wins.

Champions League participants Eintracht Frankfurt and 2. Bundesliga side SC Paderborn are the teams to qualify for the next round of the Pokal after Sunday afternoon’s matches.

FV Engers 07 0-5 Eintracht Frankfurt

New signings Ritsu Dōan and Jonathan Burkardt were playing decent football, but Frankfurt struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against the Oberliga team for nearly the entire first-half. In fact, Engers were close to taking a shock lead before Niels Nkounkou’s goal-line clearance.

As such, Jean-Mattéo Bahoya’s goal in the 44th minute was the decisive factor in the tie. Frankfurt doubled their lead a minute later when Dōan scored a delightful goal after a sublime touch to control Can Uzun‘s pinpoint delivery.

The Japanese international doubled his tally after the break with another superb finish. The former Freiburg winger was subbed off, ending his search for a career first hat-trick, but substitutes Elye Wahi and Paxten Aaronson make it five for the 2022/23 finalists. The Frenchman finally scored his first goal after a big-money transfer in January.

FC Viktoria Köln 1-3 SC Paderborn 07

In contrast, Paderborn even sealed their victory in Köln earlier than Frankfurt did in their tie. A brace from 34-year-old Adriano Grimaldi and Filip Bilbija’s penalty-kick put the 2. Bundesliga side 3-0 at the half-time break. Ex-Hoffenheim striker David Otto scored the consolation goal for the 3. Liga outfit in the hour mark.