Jung the hero as Bremen extinguish Darmstadt’s Pokal dreams

DFB-Pokal Round of 16 action continued this evening as Werder Bremen hosted SV Darmstadt at the Weserstadion. The hosts eventually made their dominance count with a 1-0 win at the death.

Werder Bremen secured their spot in the quarter-finals of the DfB Pokal with a goal courtesy of the unlikeliest of heroes who didn’t even start the game. Replacing the injured Milos Vejlkovic in the 15th-minute, Anthony Jung would go on to  net the only goal of the game as Ole Werner’s men dominated their 2.Bundesliga opposition who defended admirably until they were foiled in the last minute. 

Die Werderaner kept Marcel Schuhen honest in the opening exchanges as Romano Schmid, Marco Freidl and Marvin Ducksch keen to test the veteran goalkeeper. Mitchell Weiser was next to try his luck however Kai Klefisch made the all important block. A heart-in-mouth moment arrived when Michael Zetterer was lucky to only see yellow before the break. Appeals for greater sanction from Darmstadt players were dismissed when he wiped out Lidberg outside the box.

Schuhen would be in and amongst the chaos immediately after the break. Darmstadt’s 31-year-old goalkeeper prevented Ducksch converting from Marco Grüll’s cross and thwarted Romano Schmid who followed up the rebound. Killian Corredor was first to test Zetterer from a Darmstadt perspective. The Frenchman’s dipping strike caused the Bremen shot-stopper enough trouble who was forced to palm it to safety. 

Ole Werner’s side continued to push forward. Marvin Ducksch looked to pick out the bottom corner however Matej Maglica managed to block the shot at the last second. Despite being pinned in their own half, Darmstadt looked set to hang on for extra-time until Anthony Jung had other ideas. A final set-piece in the 94th-minute was curled to the back post by Marvin Ducksch as Jung raced in to tap home. Die Lilien jerseys lay strewn on the floor as Werder Bremen march on in the most dramatic of circumstances.