Leipzig in German Cup final after tense win over Werder Bremen

RB Leipzig entered the final of the German Cup by beating Werder Bremen thanks to two extra-time goals from substitutes Hwang Hee-Chan and Emil Forsberg. Werder Bremen captain Jiri Pavlenka denied the visitors on a number of occasions. Substitute Hwang Hee-Chan broke the deadlock in the 93rd minute. Leonardo Bittencourt got the equalizer for Bremen in the 105th minute. Emil Forsberg came off the bench to head in the last-gasp winner and take Leipzig through.

It was the RB Leipzig attack versus Bremen’s defense. South Korean Hwang Hee-Chan got the ball inside the penalty box. He placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the Bremen goal to give Leipzig a 1-0 lead with just three minutes into extra time. Bremen kept on fighting and got the equalizer towards the end of the first half of extra time. Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano’s carelessness handed the ball to substitute Bittencourt.

The German midfielder ran with the ball to the Bremen goal and rounded the goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi before firing it in from a tight angle. Just when the game looked to be heading into penalty shoot-out, the two Leipzig substitutes combined. Kevin Kampl chipped the ball into the penalty box, Hee-chan headed the ball into the path of Forsberg, who scored the goal that took Leipzig to Berlin.

LEIPZIG MADE TO DIG DEEP

Jiri Pavlenka was the hero of the regulation time. The Czech goalkeeper made superb saves to keep a clean sheet in the regulation time. Early on in the match, Pavlenka made an excellent save to deny Alexander Sorloth’s header from inside the box. The visitors hit the woodwork thrice.

Julian Nagelsmann’s men are on course to win their first major silverware. On May 14th at Berlin, Leipzig will play the winners of Saturday’s second semi-final between Dortmund and Holstein Kiel. Leipzig were beaten 3-0 in the 2019 final against Bayern Munich.