The first two of a total of eight DFB Cup quarter-finals had it all. There were two second division duels. 1. FC Magdeburg was shocked.

1. FC Kaiserslautern made it through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup, giving its new coach Dimitrios Grammozis an ideal debut.

In an atmospheric clash between the traditional clubs, the Palatinate side beat league rivals 1. FC Nürnberg 2:0 (0:0) on Tuesday evening.

Richmond Tachie (75th minute) and Ragnar Ache (78th) scored the goals for Kaiserslautern in front of 48,349 spectators at the Fritz Walter Stadium, who reached the quarter-finals of the cup for the first time in ten years. The visitors from Franconia were unable to repeat their cup success from the previous season.

In the first half, the fans saw a game at a low level, with both teams primarily concerned with a secure defense. Kaiserslautern were the more active team, but often tried to score from the second row. Nuremberg’s Christian Mathenia saved one such shot from Marlon Ritter after 21 minutes. The visitors were even less dangerous in front of goal

That changed after the restart. A header from Daichi Hayashi following a corner from Taylan Duman was cleared off the line by Kaiserslautern goalkeeper Julian Krahl (51′). The game flattened out again after that, however, with almost no big scoring chances for either side.

The Palatinate side then decided the game with a double strike in quick succession. First, Tachie scored after an assist from Jean Zimmer. Tachie then set up Joker Ache, who scored the second goal and had to leave the field injured shortly before the end. The quarter-finals will be played on January 30/31 and February 6/7.

Fortuna Düsseldorf will then also be represented in the quarter-final pot. And the ball with the name 1. FC Magdeburg was actually already there

However, Jona Niemiec, who was repeatedly linked with third-division club Rot-Weiss Essen last summer and also in the upcoming winter transfer window, scored two goals in the closing stages and equalized Magdeburg’s lead through Baris Atik (15th). Niemiec only came on as a substitute in the 85th minute and struck 120 seconds later before scoring the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.

Fortuna Düsseldorf are therefore through to the DFB Cup this winter – and Niemiec will probably continue to play in the NRW state capital after the winter break. Not only recently in Magdeburg did he make a good case for staying