DFB-Pokal: Dresden advance as Schalke’s second round curse continues

Two second-half goals secured a cup victory for Dynamo Dresden against goal-shy Schalke. The lack of clear chances at either end reflect the form of the poor form of the clubs in their respective leagues.

Dresden started the game on the front foot, but they failed to keep that up in an uneventful half of football. Hee-Chan Hwang’s header, which was easily dealt by Lennart Grill, was the only chance Bundesliga’s lowest-scoring side created in the first-half.

However, the second-half started with the hosts breaking the deadlock through 19-year-old Patric Covic. Schalke improved after going a goal behind, but they couldn’t find a way to beat the excellent Grill in Dresden’s goal.

And the result was sealed when fan favorite Christoph Daferner doubled the hosts’ advantage with a free header from a corner-kick by fellow substitute Alexander Rossipal.

The 2. Bundesliga side reached the Round of 16 in the cup for the first time since the 2014/15 season, in which they also knocked out Schalke from the competition. The five-time champions knocked out from the cup in the second round in each of the last six seasons, with four of them coming against teams from lower divisions.

Dresden will next face Hannover in a 2. Bundesliga fixture between two teams currently in the relegation zone. Schalke play against RB Leipzig and TSG Hoffenheim in Bundesliga before November’s international break.