SSV Jeddeloh II defeats 1. FC Heidenheim 5-2 in DFB-Pokal opening round

SSV Jeddeloh II defeats Heidenheim in Oldenburg

SSV Jeddeloh II secured a 5-2 victory against 1. FC Heidenheim in the first round of the DFB-Pokal at the Marschweg-Stadion in Oldenburg. The fourth-tier Regionalliga Nord side fell behind in the 12th minute when Yannik Wagner scored for the visitors. Jeddeloh equalized two minutes later through Kamer Krasniqi before Jan Schöppner deflected the ball into his own net in the 27th minute. Haris Hyseni extended Jeddeloh's lead to 3-1 with a long-range strike in the 29th minute. Heidenheim played without manager Frank Schmidt on the touchline, who watched from the stands due to a suspension carried over from a red card against Hamburger SV in the previous cup campaign. Assistant coach Bernhard Raab directed the team from the sideline.

Second-half collapse and penalty misses

Raab introduced three substitutions at the interval following a defensive first half that mirrored Heidenheim's 1-4 league defeat at Hertha BSC. Heidenheim earned an opportunity to narrow the deficit in the 58th minute, but substitute Budu Siwsiwadse saw his penalty saved by Jeddeloh goalkeeper Moritz Onken. Jeddeloh capitalized on a counterattack in the 70th minute when Hyseni converted a spot-kick for his second goal of the match. Tim Janßen scored Jeddeloh's fifth goal in the 72nd minute, extending the margin to 5-1. Mikkel Kaufmann added a second goal for Heidenheim in the 89th minute, marking Heidenheim's first opening-round cup exit in five years and bringing their total goals conceded to 12 across three competitive matches this season.

Großaspach upsets Bielefeld on penalties

In Aspach, fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof Großaspach eliminated 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld on penalties following a 2-2 draw. Elias Rahn opened the scoring for Großaspach in the 12th minute after Bielefeld goalkeeper Jonas Kersken parried two initial attempts. Bielefeld reversed the scoreline before the break as Stefano Russo headed home a corner in the 40th minute and Joel Grodowski scored in the 42nd minute after defensive miscommunication between Luca Molinari and Arbnor Nuraj. Fabian Eisele equalized from the penalty spot in the 55th minute for Großaspach. Bielefeld played extra time with ten players following a stoppage-time second yellow card for Joel Felix. In the shootout, Großaspach goalkeeper Maximilian Reule saved penalties from Maximilian Bauer and Tim Handwerker before Robert Uldrikis missed to seal Großaspach's progress.

Second-tier clash and 1860 Munich exit

In the only all-second-tier match of the opening round, VfL Bochum earned a 2-1 away win against SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Christian Rasmussen gave Uwe Rösler's side the lead in the 25th minute after an errant pass by Ole Pohlmann, and Philipp Hofmann doubled the margin in the 64th minute. Maxim Dal scored in the 77th minute for Heiko Vogel's Fürth side, but Bochum goalkeeper Timo Horn preserved the victory. Meanwhile, TSV 1860 Munich exited the tournament with a 2-0 loss against 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel in front of 15,000 fans at the Grünwalder Stadion. Munich midfielder Tunay Deniz tested Kiel goalkeeper Lio Rothenhagen with two distance efforts, but the fourth-tier side could not convert.

Goalkeeper Vitus Eicher reflected on Munich's performance after the match.

Overall it was a very strong performance, we left our heart on the pitch. That is why it is bitter that we are eliminated. But we can be proud of what we achieved.