Bayern Munich Upset in German Cup by Saarbrücken's Last-Minute Winner
Bayern Munich suffers an astonishing 2-1 loss in the German Cup to underdogs FC Saarbrücken, as a devastating 96th-minute goal seals their fate
Bayern Munich suffered a surprising 2-1 defeat in the German Cup after conceding a last-minute goal against FC Saarbrücken, a third-tier team. Marcel Gaus secured the victory for Saarbrücken by converting a low cross in the 96th minute, causing euphoria among the home supporters.
Bayern, who has clinched a remarkable 20 German Cups, experienced a dreadful night in southwest Germany, especially after the unfortunate exit of defender Matthijs De Ligt due to a concerning knee injury during the first half. Manager Thomas Tuchel opted for a formidable lineup, including Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané, and Joshua Kimmich, in the starting XI.
It was Müller who gave Bayern an early - and perhaps predictable - lead with a fine strike from outside the box, but the teams night took a downward turn from there.
Saarbrücken's Marcel Gaus vies for possession with Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
Uwe Anspach/picture-alliance/dpa/AP
Saarbrücken equalized just before halftime when De Ligt was taken off the field due to a "painful" cartilage injury, according to Tuchel. Bayern's careless play in defense led to them losing possession, and after a series of passes from Saarbrücken, Patrick Sontheimer easily scored to level the game at 1-1 at Ludwigsparkstadion.
Sané had opportunities to regain the lead for Bayern early in the second half. In an effort to secure the winning goal, Tuchel made substitutions, bringing on Kingsley Coman, Serge Gnabry, and Jamal Musiala. Coman came very close to scoring, but his powerful shot was superbly saved by goalkeeper Tim Schreiber. Despite having 18 shots and maintaining 75% possession throughout the match, Bayern were unable to find a breakthrough.
In a costly turn of events, substitute Tim Civeja managed to find an opening behind the Bayern defense during stoppage time. He then delivered a cross to Gaus, who scored an improbable winning goal for Saarbrücken. Although Bayern had one final opportunity with Gnabry, his shot was ultimately blocked. Saarbrücken could then rejoice in their renowned victory and secure a spot in the third round of the German Cup.
Goalkeeper Tim Schreiber celebrates a famous Saarbrücken win.
"It's sheer madness," stated Rüdiger Ziehl, Saarbrücken's head coach. "This had to occur within the standard timeframe as enduring 120 minutes would have been impossible for us. Today, we had to endure extensive running and suffering... It was an extraordinary display of determination, and I'm immensely proud of the team."
Tuchel chose not to substitute star striker Harry Kane despite his team's efforts to score a winning goal. Unfortunately, this defeat prolongs Kane's quest for his first-ever trophy as the captain of the England team, and the situation appears increasingly uncertain.
"We managed to make a comeback in the second half," Tuchel stated. "However, we were dealt a harsh blow with the final move of the match. There may be countless explanations, or perhaps none at all. It leaves us with a peculiar feeling."
We generated numerous opportunities, including some promising ones. It's truly disheartening. We cannot compensate for it any longer; our disappointment is profound.
Up next for Bayern is a clash against their rivals Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday. Both teams remain undefeated in the league this season.
