Eintracht Braunschweig - Alles Oder Nichts

Congratulations on making the final!
Good luck

Nice write-up, although it was kind of confusing to have both games at once. I'm surprised Dortmund got beaten like that, but congratulations on your win! Extra time matches are grueling, and you definitely want to win them, and not even letting it go to penalties is even better.

2013-11-22 21:43#145489 ebEliminator : Nice write-up, although it was kind of confusing to have both games at once. I'm surprised Dortmund got beaten like that, but congratulations on your win! Extra time matches are grueling, and you definitely want to win them, and not even letting it go to penalties is even better.

If you haven't noticed I've been doing that for all the cup games

There was celebrations all over the Ruhr region - except in Gelsenkirchen - as local side BV Borussia Dortmund secured their 3rd title in just 4 years under the management of Jurgen Klopp. Klopp is said to be the mastermind behind the title, as his side lead the table with two games to play, FC Bayern in second now unable to catch up.

Dortmund have now won 3 titles in 4 years, this year perhaps being the most spectacular triumph - and the most spectacular fail for FC Bayern. Die Bayern forced treble winning coach Jupp Heynckes to retire to make way for Josep 'Pep' Guardiola, commonly perceived to currently be the best manager in the world. However, Bayern are soon to end the season without any trophies, as they lost to Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal, can no longer catch Dortmund in the Bundesliga table, and were eliminated at the second knockout round of the Champions League after an aggregate defeat to Russian side CSKA Moskva.

Klopp has had success prior to this title, and prior to his spell at Dortmund too. He began his footballing career as a player for TuS Ergenzingen, but had little success, moving around in the amateur leagues with FC Pforzheim, Eintracht Frankfurt's reserves, Viktoria Sindlingen, and Rot-Weiss Frankfurt. However, in 1990 he joined FSV Mainz 05 where he was to make 325 league appearances, a club record, and later become coach. He took Mainz into the UEFA Europa League, then the UEFA Cup, through winning the fair play award and only went out when pitted against eventual winners Sevilla C.F. He left the club in 2008 having failed to win promotion. He came 6th and then 5th in his first Bundesliga seasons with Borussia Dortmund, then won two consecutive Bundesliga titles. Last year saw Bayern triumph over Der BVB in the Bundesliga and thanks to a last minute goal, the UEFA Champions League too.

Klopp has thanked the fans, saying that the ttitle is their work.

"Dortmund really is my 'Echte Liebe', I just can't see myself leaving. The side is doing great and it's great to manage them, we're amongst the world's best. I would only leave for a better club but I'll be hard pressed to find one. There's a reason I signed a new contract at the start of the season - because I'm here to stay - but I can't imagine even getting close to winning without you, the fans. Thank you all!"

Dortmund now look to retain their title next year, though it may be harder without the goals of Bundesliga top scorer and Polish striker Robert Lewandowski's goals. Lewandowski has agreed a deal to move to the Premier League and F.A. Cup winners Manchester City.

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Eintracht Braunschweig's final few games were dramatic, as no one knew what was going to happen at the bottom of the table, though we know now and we will look through them all.


Having drawn with Frankfurt earlier in the season with both sides on poor form, Braunschweig were favourites for this encounter as the only side in the bottom half to have played well recently. Unfortunately, they couldn't get the advantage this time, as Frankfurt's Vaclav Kadlec opened the scoring with a low drive 27 minutes in, though Braunschweig hit back through a Marcel Correia header. Stefano Celozzi's rebound gave Frankfurt the lead again, but Simeon Jackson scored seconds later to tie the game up for good.


A derby match is always going to be controversial and this one was no exception to the rule - Braunschweig triumphing over neighbours Hannover at the Eintracht Stadion. 24 minutes was all it took for the game to open up as Salif Sané came in late and two footed on Braunschweig's Dennis Kruppke and was shown a red card for his challenge. Braunschweig then scored ten minutes afterwards as Torsten Oerhl tapped in after Dennis Kruppke's free kick was blocked. The lead lasted until ten minutes from time as Edgar Prib was found unmarked at the back post and headed in. Braunschweig went straight up the pitch to score again and win the game, as the referee gave a dubious penalty which Timo Perthel smashed in to win the match.


Mainz were the ideal opposition for Braunschweig, going nowhere on crap form and low down in the table. They showed why they were so low down with a performance that kept referee Benjamin Reich very busy indeed. He sent off Mainz midfielder Anthony Annan before even a minute passed, for a two footed lunge, and Braunschweig scored 4 minutes in, of course, from a free kick, that was cleared to Ermin Bicakcic who put it in. Braunschweig's next goal saw two Mainz players both diving in recklessly for the ball - winning it - but sending it into the path of Mirko Boland who scored. Mainz had chances, though. Their 27th and final foul of the game came from striker Schahin who was booked for simulation when he could have easily scored.


It looked after this game that Braunschweig had all but guaranteed their safety - and Hoffenheim's relegation with an emphatic 3-1 victory over Markus Gisdol's side. Mirko Boland put in the first goal after half an hour, out pacing Andreas Beck and rounding keeper Casteel's before tapping in. Der BTSV could relax after an hour as they got their second, at long last, through Karim Bellarabi, as Omar Elabdellaoui's great shot was palmed across goal to Bellarabi by Casteels. The goal of the game was the third from Dennis Kruppke, who smashed a free kick across the goalmouth and over Casteel's head, nearly ripping the net off. Tarik Elyounoussi's volley during injury time proved nothing but consolation for Die Hoffe.


Eintracht Braunschweig's good run finally ended away at the Imtech Arena vs HSV, despite another good performance from the side. HSV had lost 9-0 to Borussia Dortmund previously, but Hakan Calhanoglu's header put Die Rothosen in the lead early on. Timo Perthel equalised with a powerful low drive in the second half and late on, as with against Schalke, Eintracht Braunschweig succumbed to a late goal, this time a rebound from Artjoms Rudnevs, to lose the game at the death.


The final game saw Eintracht Braunschweig face Werder Bremen in a crucial game with neither side quite safe from relegation yet. The game promised much but delivered little, as both sides would be fine with a draw, until 83 minutes in when Braunschweig conceded yet another late goal, this time from Nils Petersen, who beat Kostas Lamprou who was out of position. Matthias Henn scored the goal that won Braunschweig a couple of millions of euros with a late tap in to send the club shooting back up the table, the goal coming after Petersen's headed clearance landed at Henn's feet. Braunschweig again dominated though.

2 points gap between 12th place and last place... damn this is gonna be close!

2013-11-23 15:10#145581 NVDTahir : 2 points gap between 12th place and last place... damn this is gonna be close!

You idiot. The season's over.

2013-11-23 15:13#145583 Louis O. :

2013-11-23 15:10#145581 NVDTahir : 2 points gap between 12th place and last place... damn this is gonna be close!

You idiot. The season's over.

LOL I KNOW! T'WAS SARCASTIC! haha

VfL Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking has publicly announced his predictions for their side's next game - the DFB-Pokal final against Eintracht Braunschweig. Hecking told the media ahead of the game that he knows Die Wolfe will triumph and he wants to do it in style.

Wolfsburg have enjoyed a lot of success this year under Hecking, and Die Wolfe have now confirmed their 4th place finish for this season, thus gaining Champions League football. However, in their more recent game against Braunschweig, Wolfsburg were unable to take all 3 points as both sies managed one goal each, although earlier in the season Wolfsburg put an astonishing 5 goals past Kostas Lamprou though Braunschweig also managed 3 goals of their own through Omar Elabdellaoui's hat trick.

Hecking's opposite number, Eintracht Braunschweig coach Benno Mohlmann, is in his 3rd spell at Braunschweig. Despite a long and successful career as a midfielder, Möhlmann is more well known for his managerial career, which has lasted an astonishing 24 years so far. It began where his playing career finished, at HSV, as an assistant manager to Josip Skoblar. In 1992 he became the head coach, but after 3 years in charge he was sacked and took charge at Eintracht Braunschweig for the first time, with the club in the Regionaliga. He led the team out for 56 games before leaving for SpVgg Greuther Fürth. He spent almost 3 years at Fürth, before joining Arminia Bielefeld. He managed Bielefeld until 2004, for 4 years. Afterwards he returned to Greuther Fürth, and not for the last time either. His second stint was just as long. He lasted 3 years in the Fürth hot seat, leaving in 2007 to return to Eintracht Braunschweig. After a defeat to Oberhausen that left the side in deep relegation trouble, he announced that he was to resign from his post, and was replaced by now Stuttgart manager Torsten Lieberknecht. Möhlmann had planned to retire, but he received an offer to replace Bruno Labbadia at Greuther Fürth, his 3rd spell at the Cloverleaves. He brought the club to 5th in his first season but after dropping to 15th the next year he left the club during the winter break. He then spent a year at FC Ingolstadt in the 2. Bundesliga, but was replaced by his assistant Sven Kmetsch. He joined FSV Frankfurt, in 2011, before taking charge at Braunschweig again this year and managing them to safety and the cup final.

Hecking has err, heckled, Mohlmann and his side in the media before the game.

"Saying that they have a chance would be wrong. Take a look at the Bundesliga table. We finished 4th. 4TH! They are, I don't know, 16th, in the relegation play off? Aren't they? I don't know. We're 4th. We qualified for the Champions League, they can't get that, they couldn't get the Europa League through their league position.

Obviously I have respect for Mohlmann. But he's not up to the task. There was a reason why they let him go in the first place and I know that Mohlmann could probably take Bayern Munich to the 3.Liga. No one seems to notice when he's doing badly. He's doing terribly here. Braunschweig's players are good enough for an easy top half finish, and he's gone and spent most of the season in last. They're in the relegation play off aren't they? I hope they go down. Erzgebirge Aue are not a good side, but they'll be way too much for Braunschweig."

It seems that Hecking is taking a different approach to normal, as his comments are only criticizing the manager, Mohlmann, and he won't be able to pin up Hecking's comments on the wall as the players have only been praised. It remains to be seen whether his comments will have the desired effect.

Very good in avoiding relegation in your first season! Good luck in the Cup Final

Wanted you to get relegated, but well done on avoiding the drop;) gl with the final

Amazing last couple of months to avoid the drop, and now it could be topped off by a cup win!

It's finally here! The DFB-Pokal comes to it's conclusion as Eintracht Braunschweig face off against Lower Saxony rivals VfL Wolfsburg at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. It's certainly going to be a tight game, what with the recent 1-1 draw in the league. Let's look at the line ups of the two sides.

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Braunschweig have recently been playing a very interesting formation. 4 at the back and 6 in the midfield with no strikers whatsoever. It's worked though, as the club have won 4 games out of their last 6. The manager Mohlmann went with this formation, rather oddly, when numerous strikers asked for more footballing time.

Wolfsburg though, have stuck with a more traditional 4-5-1 formation, with Pokal top scorer Bas Dost the main man up front. Wolfsburg have enjoyed a lot of success this year as they have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League, meaning no matter the result Braunschweig will play in next year's UEFA Europa League. However, Die Wolfe's star man Diego will miss the game with a twisted knee and his absence may just make the difference.

Let's take a look at the last two fixtures between these two teams, taken from Braunschweig's archives.





The game promised to be one to remember, but for defenders worldwide it was one to forget as 8 goals went in, though 5 of them went past Kostas Lamprou as Eintracht Braunschweig headed for their 4th successive defeat. The Lower Saxony Derby began with a good goal from Omar Elabdellaoui after 10 minutes but moments later Timm Klose levelled the scores and right on half time, Diego lobbed Lamprou with a great free kick to put Wolfsburg ahead at the break. Braunschweig went out to score again and it was Elabdellaoui who did just that straight away, his shot too hot for Max Grun to handle. The Norwegian Elabdellaoui bagged his hat-trick on 66 minutes after a goalmouth scramble yet Ivica Olic went straight up the pitch and scored to make it 3-3. Two late Bas Dost goals consigned Braunschweig to defeat - their 4th one in a row.


Perhaps Braunschweig's biggest test of the month was not the games against Bayern or Schalke. It would be the game against overacheivers Wolfsburg in the Lower Saxony Derby. Unfortunately, it didn't take long for Wolfsburg to go ahead through Diego, getting the rebound after his free kick was blocked by the Braunschweig wall. Orhan Ademi later levelled, getting on the end of Ciro Capuano's cross and Braunschweig again held out with a backs to the wall performance that earned them one more point.

So, who will win? Let's find out.

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1 - Kick Off
VfL Wolfsburg get the game underway.

3 - Chance
Lamprou's goal kick across the field, the Greek keeper playing his last Braunschweig game as his loan is up. The kick goes forward. Reinartz wins the header, it falls to Maximilian Arnold, he goes past Bicakcic, he finds Perisic, Perisic is through, a chance for IVAN PERISIC! Should not have shot from such a distance.

5 - Chance
Wolfsburg are dominating in these early stages, Vierinha just flies past numerous defenders again, pass to Luiz Gustavo. Kruppke goes in with the tackle, well done by Maximilian Arnold who wins it back, and gives it to Trasch. Back to Arnold, back to GUSTAVO! The long range effort flies over Lamprou's goal.

15 - No Goal
Maximilan Arnold, finds Trasch, crosses, cleared by Kessel, Vierinha gets it, sets up Arnold nicely, Timo Perthel comes in with the challenge. He gives it to Torsten Oerhl, Oerhl to Bellarabi on the counter attack, he beats Rodriguez for pace, cuts back to Marco Caligiuri, long shot stopped by Benaglio but it's BOLAND! 1-0! MIRKO BOLAND TAPS IT IN! NO! Disallowed! It won't count, I think it's an offside call against Boland. Unlucky for Braunschweig.




26 - Chance
Timm Klose heads the ball to Naldo, he's missed it, it's Kruppke for Braunschweig in the centre of the park, out wide to Torsten Oerhl who cuts it back for Karim Bellarabi, he enters the box and SHOOOOOTTTTTTTS! Benaglio didn't need to move a muscle, easy catch, poor effort, from Bellarabi in his last game for Braunschweig.

29 - Chance
The game seems to be going into Braunschweig's favour now... it's a corner to Die Lowen, which will be taken by Dennis Kruppke. He puts one arm up and delivers to CORREIA AT THE NEAR POST! Ooooh! He was unmarked, it's a free header for the Portuguese defender, but he heads it at the side netting.


31 - Chance
Naldo has the ball in the middle, he's under no pressure from Braunschweig, picks out a simple pass, to Christian Trasch. Trasch to Vierinha, he beats Capuano, gives it to Arnold, who puts it back out wide for Vierinha again, this is a good chance... AND THAT'S A BAD MISS! Vierinha went for glory, he went for the near post, he came up with nothing, hit the side netting, and ends up with egg on his face. Disappointing miss for Dieter Hecking's side.

45 - GOAL! TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 1-0 VfL Wolfsburg - Karim Bellarabi
Timm Klose puts the long ball up the pitch here for Wolfsburg, Perisic doesn't challenge for it and possession changes hands, it's Benjamin Kessel, taps it to Bellarabi, he has Oerhl and Kruppke in support, goes past Klose and Rodriguez and HE'S IN, AND HE SCORES! BELLARABI NEEDED NO SUPPORT! HE WALTZED THROUGH THE DEFENCE AND BLASTED IT IN! WHAT A FINISH! Bellarabi scores a cracker here, he had support and he didn't need it nor did he want it. That is a solo goal and Bellarabi has made a massive difference here on the stroke of half time.

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Half Time
So Braunschweig lead. It's certainly interesting, but will Wolfsburg come back to level and maybe win the game? Or will Der BTSV take home the cup? Let's see, in the second half.

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46 - Kick Off
It's Braunschweig who start the second period. What does the next 45 minutes have in store?

54 - Chance
Mirko Boland has the ball. He passes to Torsten Oerhl, to Bellarabi, who runs, he beats Ricardo Rodriguez, cuts back for Perthel and he gives it to Kruppke, Perthel takes it back and shooots!!! Blocked! But he's got the rebound now and it's PERTHEL AGAIN! Over!

61 - Chance
Wolfsburg need to score soon to get back in the game, Braunschweig have dominated the half and Die Wolfe have barely got a look in, but they have an opportunity with a corner kick on the left. It's whipped in by Arnold and it's PERISIC! Over the bar, he should have put it in.

72 - Chance
A quiet period seems to be over now, Wolfsburg and Braunschweig are at each other's throats yet again. Vierinha has a free kick for Wolfsburg, he looks to cross it I think, up he steps, and no, that's a shot and not a good one - way over.

74 - Chance
Pekhart has the ball for Wolfsburg and he has time too. No pressure, he finds Brandt who runs at the defence beats his man and gives it to REINARTZ! Shot saved by Lamprou BUT HE'S DROPPED IT! Oh, if only Bas Dost hadn't slipped. Lamprou clutches the ball, he got there just before Dost could react and the Greek keeper will be the first to admit - he got lucky there.

78 - Chance
Increased pressure from Wolfsburg now. Braunschweig can't get a look in but the trailing side are going to need a goal soon. Another chance to get it here. Vierinha's corner to the near post find's Dost... wide. Dreadful effort.


87 - GOAL! TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0 VfL Wolfsburg - Timo Perthel
Wolfsburg break, it's Rodriguez, Pekhart, Benjamin Kessel wins the ball and stops the attack! Kruppke gets the ball, back to Kessel, Torsten Oerhl, Karim Bellarabi, Gustavo tracks back and goes in hard on Bellarabi! He's gone down in the box, but the referee waves play on, Gustavo clears but only as far as Perthel AND OH MY WORD! WHAT A GOAL! FROM 35 YARDS OUT! TIMO PERTHEL! The game is beyond doubt, Perthel smashed it from miles away and beat Benaglio, though maybe the Swiss keeper should have stopped it.



90 - Full Time - TSV Eintracht Braunschweig 2-0 VfL Wolfsburg
Robin Knoche plays the long ball, out for a goal kick, the referee looks at his watch and blows the final whistle! Braunschweig are DFB-Pokal winners! What a win!

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Braunschweig players and fans celebrate on the Olympiastadion turf! VfL Wolfsburg's players are dejected, and nobody more than key player Diego who missed the final with injury, being forced to sit alongside Dieter Hecking in the dug out. And Dieter Hecking himself - his mind games spectacularly backfired. He said his side had practically won the game - but Braunschweig were the better side and deservedly won. A great performance from Benjamin Kessel and Karim Bellarabi in particular.

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Journalist: Congratulations Benno, you must be delighted!
Benno Mohlmann: Oh yes, I am. Only one side can win the cup each year and this year it's us. I'm over the moon.
J: At times, during the campaign, did you feel it was all hopeless?
BM: At times we were bottom in the Bundesliga table. And at times in the cup - like against Stuttgart - we didn't think it would go our way. But it did and of course we were lucky - but luck wins the cup and that's what we've done.
J: Despite your triumph, Karim Bellarabi and Kostas Lamprou will both depart soon as their loan deals run out. Will you look to get them again?
BM: Obviously, Kostas and Karim will be missed if we can't replace them but we will - maybe with themselves, haha! The squad will be different of course. Matthias Henn wants to leave and Damir Vrancic will be back after his spell at Hoffenheim. Hopefully we'll do even better next year.
J: You're in next years Europa League; do you think that will attract more players?
BM: Maybe, maybe.
J: Once again, congratulations, Benno.
BM: Thank you.

Great win Louis! Avoiding relegation now this - excellent commentary as well

Well done on avoiding relegation and great win in the final