Fortuna Düsseldorf beat FC St. Pauli 4-3 on penalties in the DFB Cup quarter-finals. Joshua Quarshie made his debut – and was lucky.
Just three days after the convincing 2-1 win for FC St. Pauli at Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2nd Bundesliga, the two teams met again in the DFB Cup semi-final, this time at the Millerntor. Düsseldorf did a much better job at the second attempt, but still had to go to penalties to secure their place in the last four. Former RWE talent Joshua Quarshie was also involved in the game just one day after his official presentation in Düsseldorf.
But the 19-year-old started on the bench. Düsseldorf got off to a much better start in Hamburg and hardly allowed their opponents to create any chances in the first half. Former Duisburg player Vincent Vermeij put Fortuna in front after 38 minutes from the penalty spot. The striker had been fouled by Sascha Burchert, who is actually St. Pauli’s second goalkeeper.
In the second half, however, the league leaders then picked up the pace – and were awarded a penalty of their own. Ao Tanaka brought Philipp Treu down. Marcel Hartel took responsibility and put the ball in the left corner (60′).
Quarshie in luck
Both teams remained committed, but the decision was no longer to be made in regular time. Then Quarshie’s hour struck. The young central defender came on for Jordy De Wijs in extra time. However, just seven minutes later he made a huge mistake. The youngster should have been able to clear a Maurides cross without any problems, but played the ball into the path of Hartel. St. Pauli’s playmaker had a shot from six meters out, but luckily for Quarshie, he put the ball over the bar. The man who has contributed 25 scorer points in 22 games this season rarely misses such a chance.
This would prove to be his undoing shortly afterwards. Once again, St. Pauli’s goalkeeper played a part in conceding a goal. Burchert allowed Christoph Daferner’s long-range shot, which he should have saved, to rebound off him. Tanaka, who had conceded the penalty in the second half, made up for his mistake by poking the ball into the net to give his side a much-celebrated lead in the 99th minute.
In the second period of extra time, Quarshie was again the center of attention when Elias Saad kicked him in the face with his foot while attempting a bicycle kick. The 19-year-old needed treatment but managed to get back up and continue to defend against the home side, who were coming forward. In the first minute of stoppage time, however, it finally happened: Danel Sinani’s cross was met by Carlo Boukhalfa, who headed in the celebrated 2-2.
Kastenmeier becomes a hero
And so it became dramatic. As the second shooter, Daferner failed for the Fortunes and put his team at a disadvantage. But he could rely on his goalkeeper. Florian Kastenmeier first saved against St. Pauli’s fourth shooter Maurides and ensured a tie, then he was on the spot again against Hartel’s shot number five. However, the keeper had left the line too early. So St. Pauli’s playmaker got a second chance – but again failed to beat the goalkeeper.
As the fifth and final shooter, Christos Tzolis had victory in his sights. The Greek remained ice-cold, brazenly converted a penalty and ensured that Fortuna will be in the cup semi-finals for the first time since 1996.
The match at a glance:
FC St. Pauli: Burchert – Wahl, Smith, Mets – Treu, Kemlein (74. Boukhalfa), Hartel, Ritzka (46. Saliakas) – Afolayan (99. Sinani), Eggestein (74. Maurides), Amenyido (46. Saad)
Fortuna Düsseldorf: Kastenmeier – Iyoha (11. Uchino), Hoffmann, de Wijs (91. Quarshie), Gavory – Engelhardt, Tanaka, Johannesson (91. Zimmermann), Klaus (86. Niemiec), Tzolis – Vermeij (68. Daferner)
Goals: 0:1 Vermeij (38., FE.), 1:1 Hartel (60., FE.), 1:2 Tanaka (99.), 2:2 Boukhalfa (120.+1)
Yellow cards: Burchert, Saliakas, Mets, Saad – Hoffmann
Yellow-red card: Hürzeler (St. Pauli coach, 120.)
Referee: Sascha Stegemann
spectators: 29,546 (sold out)
Penalty shoot-out: 1:0 Smith, 1:1 Hoffmann, 2:1 Saad, Burchert (Düsseldorf) saves from Daferner, 3:1 Sinani, 3:2 Engelhardt, Kastenmeier (Düsseldorf) saves from Maurides, 3:3 Tanaka, Kastenmeier (Düsseldorf) saves from Hartel, 3:4 Tzolis