Nuremberg progress – Schalke loanee sacrifices himself

1. FC Nürnberg are through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup after beating Fortuna Düsseldorf on penalties.

What a cup drama in Nuremberg. In the round of 16 of the DFB Cup, there was the second league duel between 1. FC Nürnberg and Fortuna Düsseldorf. In the end, FCN prevailed 6:4 after a penalty shoot-out.

One of the decisive scenes: In the 120th minute, Florian Flick, who was loaned from FC Schalke to 1. FC Nürnberg in the winter, sacrificed himself. He looked bad in a duel against Fortuna’s Jona Niemiec, had to let him go and deliberately pulled the emergency stop just outside the penalty area.

The defensive midfielder knew that he would be sent off, but he saved his team the penalty.

This was preceded by 120 minutes in which Nuremberg were initially the better team. But Fortuna struck with the first chance. Dawid Kownacki completed a beautiful attack with a header after a cross from Emmanuel Iyoha.

This was the score going into the break. After the change, the FCN found no means against the Düsseldorfers. Coach Markus Weinzierl’s team did not have any real chances to score. Until stoppage time. Then it was substitute Taylan Duman who scored the equaliser after a cross from Mats Møller Dæhli, also a substitute. The ball was deflected by Fortuna defender Christoph Klarer.

Fortuna were also the more dangerous team in extra time – but good chances were not taken. Then came the 120th minute and Flick’s emergency stop. When Marcel Ginczek shot the ensuing free kick into the Nuremberg night sky, it was clear that there would be a penalty shoot-out.

Here it was also curious, because Fortuna keeper Florian Kastenmaier was the first to take the shot – and he coolly converted it. He then held off Nuremberg’s 1:1 scorer Duman, but the penalty had to be retaken because Kastenmaier had moved off his line before taking the shot. That is forbidden.

Nuremberg then scored every penalty kick, Jona Niemiec missed on Fortuna’s side and Nuremberg were allowed to rejoice over a very flattering victory and are through to the quarter-finals.