VfL Wolfsburg advanced to the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Monday, but only after a tense penalty shootout against Regionalliga side Altglienicke in Berlin. The Bundesliga club needed spot kicks to overcome the fourth-tier hosts, according to NDR.de.
The match, reported by Kicker, ended in a dramatic shootout after the teams could not be separated in regular play. NDR.de described the contest as an "Elfmeterdrama" in the German capital, with Wolfsburg ultimately securing their place in the next round.
Altglienicke's coach, Mattuschka, expressed pride in his team's performance despite the loss. According to BILD, he noted that his side had often been dismissed or ridiculed, saying they were "often laughed at" as a club. The Regionalliga outfit pushed a top-flight opponent to the limit, a result that underscored the cup's capacity for upsets.
Wolfsburg coach Merlin Polzin acknowledged the challenge, telling NDR.de that the "cup motto is fascinating" and that the winner moves on. However, the victory came with a cost. T-Online reported that Polzin celebrated too early during the match and will now face consequences, though the specifics of the sanction were not detailed in the available reporting.
The cup tie highlighted the gap between Germany's professional and semi-professional tiers, yet Altglienicke's resilience forced Wolfsburg to work hard for their progression. For the Bundesliga side, the narrow escape in Berlin serves as a warning ahead of tougher fixtures.
Wolfsburg will now turn their attention to the second-round draw, knowing that their cup campaign nearly ended before it truly began.
