Stephan Schröck's SpVgg Greuther Fürth reaches the German Cup semi's for the 1st time since 1951!

MATCH REPORT: Stephan Schröck/SpVgg Greuther Fürth/2.Bundesliga, Germany(2nd Tier)

Feb 9 2012(DFB Pokal) Hoffenheim  0-1  Greuther Fürth

 

With a little luck, a great defense, SpVgg Greuther Fürth has reached the semi finals of the DFB Pokal(or Germany Cup) for the first time since 1951! With this win over a 1.Bundesliga team, the Cloverleafs has shown they belong with Germanys best football teams. They now move on to the semi finals with teams such as Borrusia M'Gladbach,  Bayern München and the like. Truly Stephan Schröck's SpVgg Greuther Fürth is now with rarefied company.

To be sure, Hoffenheim was/is not a 1.Bundesliga minnow as they are in 8th place in the 18 team German premier league. True to this, they started the match aggressively with possession and dangerous intent against the Cloverleafs. It would take the 19th minute before Greuther Fürth would try a shot on goal. After minutes of a back-and-forth affair a Hoffenheim player was red flagged(36') with a hand in the face of a player from the visiting Cloverleafs team. It was not long before Stephan's team took advantage of the situation as they struck just before the half(44') the score was 0-1 for Stephan's team!

The second half saw both teams adjusting to the situation. Greuther Fürth had numerous chances including in the 79th minute when Schröck teamed up with the goal scorer Occean but it was to no avail. In the end Hoffenheim's loss of a man was to much for them to hurdle. The Cloverleafs triumphs in Wirsol Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

Stephan Schröck seemed to be recovered from his foot injury as he played the entire match. Aging former German national team player Gerald Asamoah, who also had a nagging injury, played his first game with Greuther Fürth coming in at the 42nd minute.

Meanwhile in 2.Bundesliga rankings, Greuther Fürth is now 4th place. They have gone down the rankings not because they have lost games but other teams have been on the winning end too. 

Next fixture: Feb 12 2012 a home game against Paderborn, currently in 3rd place.