Kobel's shoot-out heroics guide Dortmund past Frankfurt

In perhaps one of the most hotly anticipated ties of second round, Eintracht Frankfurt hosted fellow Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal tonight. Amazingly, 120 minutes of football couldn't separate the sides in a 1-1 draw, therefore penalties were required as BVB advanced 4-2 in the shoot-out.

Despite the visitors starting on the front foot with some aggressive pressing and attacks, Frankfurt snatched a 1-0 lead inside 7 minutes. Ex-BVB duo Mario Götze and Ansgar Knauff combined as the former played a defense-splitting pass through for the 23-year-old to convert inside the box.

The Hessen club almost converted with their second chance of the game with Farès Chaïbi at the back post, albeit from an offside position. Aside from an early Karim Adeyemi shot and Jobe Bellingham's off target header, BVB's attacking shape looked rather blunt midway through the half.

Chaïbi's deflected effort and a zippy strike from Ritsu Dōan into the palms of Gregor Kobel maintained the Hessen club's intensity. A long-range pile driver from Arthur Theate followed but BVB's Swiss shot-stopper was behind it, ensuring Frankfurt only took a one-goal advantage into the break.

If Niko Kovač's side lacked attacking impetus before the interval, they surely made amends within 3 minutes of the second-half. After some nice build-up play, Bellingham fed Julian Ryerson on the right flank who picked out his namesake Brandt. His tap-in from close range to restored parity.

Past the hour mark, Knauff continued to threaten as he tested Kobel again. Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller eventually looked to his bench, introducing Skhiri and Uzun for Larsson and Götze. It wasn't long before Serhou Guirassy entered for Dortmund for the final 15 minutes.

The next best chance fell Frankfurt's way as Dōan cracked the crossbar with a thunderous hit. Kobel was called into action again to deflect Uzun's effort. A final effort in injury time from BVB substitute Fábio Silva which forced a smart save out of Zetterer couldn't prevent an impending period of extra-time.

Carney Chukwuemeka and Felix Nmecha brought fresh legs to the visitors' ranks, but the first period of extra-time was rather cagey in truth. Aside from a Chaïbi effort and an audacious Guirassy bicycle-kick, chances were limited at either end.

Frankfurt thought they bagged a dramatic late winner when Burkardt steered home from close range, but he was clearly offside on replay. Schlotterbeck tried his luck from range nearing the death but Zetterer was equalit to the effort as the dreaded penalty shoot-out followed.

A game of this magnitude decided by penalties always brings a level of unparalleled pressure. In the end, Dortmund advanced as Dōan blazed over from Frankfurt's second spot-kick, while Gregor Kobel repelled Chaïbi from 12 yards to ensure a massive triumph for Kovač's side in the Hessen state.