Harres the hero: “I don’t think I’ve ever scored a free-kick goal before!”

Here are the comments from Kiel’s matchwinner Phil Harres directly after their win in the DFB Pokal against HSV.

Holstein Kiel’s Phil Harres spoke with pride after his heroics in the dramatic DFB Pokal win over HSV, which saw the Störche advance on penalties following a 1-1 extra-time draw.

Harres, who scored a stunning late free-kick to force extra time, admitted it was a first for him: “I don’t think I’ve ever scored a free-kick goal before, but I knew I could do it. I think I can handle these situations. In stressful moments, you can mis-hit the ball, but today I just believed in myself.”

The 23-year-old also reflected on his penalty: “I was definitely nervous. My last penalty three years ago was so bad, it felt like it went into the sky. I really wanted to take one again and shake off that bad feeling – and today it worked.”

When asked about his wishes for the next round, Harres remained focused: “I don’t have a specific wish. Now we just look forward to the next challenge.”

Harres’ performance, combining composure under pressure and confidence in clutch moments, earned him man of the match honours and secured his place as Kiel’s hero in a memorable cup night.