Cup hero at 20: Kiel goalkeeper Rothenhagen knocks Hoffenheim out
Second-division Holstein Kiel eliminated Bundesliga side Hoffenheim from the German Cup on penalties. Twenty-year-old academy goalkeeper Lio Rothenhagen saved the decisive spot kick.
Archive image · Photo: Ichwarsnur / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Holstein Kiel are into the last 16 of the German Cup. The second-division side beat Hoffenheim in a penalty shootout on Wednesday night in front of 10,001 fans at the Holstein-Stadion. The game was 1-1 after 120 minutes: Adam Hlozek put Hoffenheim ahead in the 11th minute, and Adrian Kapralik equalized in the 23rd. A goal by Hoffenheim's Tim Lemperle was ruled out for offside after a video review.
In the shootout, Kiel's Kvilitaia hit the inside of the post and Hoffenheim's Avdullahu shot over the bar. Kiel goalkeeper Lio Rothenhagen then saved the visitors' fifth penalty from Mats Rots to decide it. The 20-year-old came through the club's academy and was playing only his second professional game.
"Saving the decisive penalty was an awesome feeling and of course a relief," Rothenhagen told the club's website. Striker Phil Harres, who converted Kiel's last penalty, said: "This cup night feels incredibly good."