Penalty thriller in the DFB Cup: "I don't usually cry"

At the moment of greatest success, Emil Forsberg discovered a whole new side of himself.

"I don't usually cry, but after the last penalty I cried and it was a great feeling.

I was so proud and so happy," said the attacker from RB Leipzig and immediately gave an indication of how he intended to spend the night ahead.

"I'm in the mood for beer.

I'm from Sweden, we can drink too," said Forsberg and disappeared.

First in the dressing room, then in the city of Berlin, where, according to Forsberg's taste, the party went on until the early hours of the morning.

RB Leipzig won the DFB Cup.

For the first time ever.

This 4:2 after a penalty shoot-out against SC Freiburg is no less than historic.

After 120 minutes it was 1-1 again.

The two comparisons in the Bundesliga had already ended with this result.

But this time there had to be a winner and it was Leipzig because their shooters Christopher Nkunku, Willi Orban, Dani Olmo and Benjamin Henrichs scored while Freiburg's Christian Günter and Ermedin Demirovic missed.

"I didn't see how we all hit it, but probably everyone was clean," said Peter Gulacsi.

Leipzig's goalkeeper had turned away with every shot by his teammates.

From superstition.

From tension.

Out of nervousness.

RB Leipzig against all odds

Gulacsi was right, Leipzig's penalties were all "clean", meaning that Freiburg goalkeeper Mark Flekken could not keep them.

This basic trust in each other and the belief in oneself and the teammates were what brought Leipzig to this penalty shoot-out in the first place.

Against all odds.

Maximilian Eggestein's opening goal in Freiburg was preceded by a clear handball and then Marcel Halstenberg saw the red card at the beginning of the second half after an emergency brake.

The game had everything one would commonly want in an endgame.

Tension, drama, goal area scenes and a number of decisions that could be discussed excellently.

"It doesn't matter.

We won,” said Forsberg shortly after the end of the game.

As happy as his teammates were, Leipzig's victory did not spark much enthusiasm outside of their own supporters.

Apart from TSG Hoffenheim and Oliver Kahn, the CEO of FC Bayern, RB initially did not receive any official congratulations from any other club via social networks.

The clubs were silent when the rival, which was founded just 13 years ago and was supported by large donations from a beverage manufacturer, won the first title.

Opponents Freiburg had already forbidden the production of a joint fan scarf for the final beforehand.

Active fan scenes have always been critical of the Leipzig group club.

On the other hand, there was plenty of consolation for SC Freiburg.

Union Berlin, for example, wrote: "You would have deserved it.

Let yourself be celebrated anyway, no one can take this historic cup trip away from you!” Union had previously lost in the semifinals to RB Leipzig in a dramatic manner (1:2).

The Berlin tenor was joined by many supporters of other teams, especially on social media.

Outside of Freiburg and Leipzig, many fans had been with the SC, which has repeatedly achieved respectable success with a comparatively small budget and is considered a prime example of serious work and management.

While Leipzig was in its third cup final after two defeats in 2019 and 2021, Freiburg was in the final for the first time.

It is rather unlikely that the SC will follow a series with three finals in four years like the Leipzig team.

The appendix celebrated the players and coaches accordingly.

The fact that Christian Streich is "the best man" was loudly heard again and again before and after the award ceremony.

The ceremony was delayed due to a medical emergency.

One man needed treatment and was taken out of the stadium in an ambulance.

The stadium announcer said his condition was stable.

Several people had provided blankets for privacy during the treatment, and fans and players had stopped the celebrations in the meantime.

"That overshadows it, but for us it's an incredible moment," said Peter Gulacsi later.

The goalkeeper has already played for Leipzig in the second division, he has grown with the club, like Emil Forsberg, Willi Orban or Yussuf Poulsen, who have been there even longer.

"It's something very special for the whole club, the first title in the club's history.

I hope this is just the beginning," Orban said.

He had just managed to get his penalty kick into the goal with the last of his strength, but cramps plagued him immediately after the shot.

Not good conditions for what came and is to come.

The team's entry in Leipzig's golden book is planned for Sunday, followed by a big party and fan festival in front of the stadium.

If necessary with cramps, but that shouldn't matter to most players after this success.