In the German DFB Pokal semifinal, a surprising result occurred: 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld, led by Roberts Uldriķis, defeated the defending champions Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 to reach their first-ever final.
Roberts Uldriķis last played on February 25, when his team won the DFB Pokal quarterfinal match 2-1 against Werder Bremen. He suffered a season-ending knee injury during that match.
Without Uldriķis, Arminia faced Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinal. Leverkusen, considered the favorites, opened the scoring in the 17th minute. A corner kick was delivered into the box, where Jonathan Tah scored from a knockdown by Amine Adli.
However, Arminia quickly responded. Marius Wörl shot the ball into the bottom right corner, equalizing the score just three minutes later.
As the first half neared its end, Arminia surprisingly took the lead! A free kick was delivered deep into the box, and Maximilian Größer redirected the ball into the top corner, making it 2-1.
In the second half, Bayer Leverkusen failed to play like a team determined to win, while Arminia held on to their lead, securing a spot in the final against either Stuttgart or RB Leipzig.
SCENES OUT OF BIELEFELD!! THE CUP HOLDERS ARE OUT AND FANS ARE STORMING THE FIELD IN CELEBRATION
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 1, 2025pic.twitter.com/3rLCFHpXVD
With this victory, Roberts Uldriķis’ team becomes the fourth 3. Liga side to reach the DFB Pokal final. Previous teams include Hertha Berlin’s reserve team in 1993, Energie Cottbus in 1997, and Union Berlin in 2001, all of whom lost in the final. This means Arminia Bielefeld could become the first team from the 3. Liga to win the title.
The winner of the DFB Pokal will secure a spot in the 2025/2026 Europa League phase.
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