Holstein Kiel edge TSG Hoffenheim 1-1 (4-3 on penalties) to reach the DFB-Pokal last 16

Holstein Kiel are not in the Bundesliga this season. For 120 minutes and a penalty shootout at the Holstein-Stadion, that didn't matter. The 2. Bundesliga side held TSG Hoffenheim to a 1-1 draw through normal and extra time, then won the shootout 4-3 to reach the DFB-Pokal round of 16.

Adam Hložek put Hoffenheim ahead early, finishing from close range in the 11th minute. Kiel needed only twelve more to level it: Adrian Kapralik scored from a tight angle in the 23rd, moments after Tim Lemperle thought he had restored Hoffenheim's lead only for the goal to be ruled out for offside on a VAR check.

The chances kept coming after that without either side finding a second goal. Phil Harres had a clear sight of goal for Kiel in first-half injury time, Fisnik Asllani twice came close to putting Hoffenheim back in front after the restart, and goalkeeper Lio Rothenhagen produced a smart save to atone for an earlier mistake of his own.

Extra time settles nothing

Neither side could land the winner in the extra 30 minutes either. Hoffenheim had the better of the chances deep into the second period, but Harres missed the clearest opening of the lot for Kiel in the 120th minute, and the tie went to penalties with the scoreline exactly as it had stood since the 23rd minute.

The shootout

1. Giorgi Kvilitaia, on as a Kiel substitute and booked in extra time, missed the very first kick of the shootout.
2. Leon Avdullahu blazed his effort well off target for Hoffenheim.
3. Mats Rots' weak attempt was saved by Lio Rothenhagen — the kick that sent Kiel through, 4-3.

Rothenhagen, 20 years old, had already made one fine stop in normal time to make up for an earlier error. In the shootout he had the last word, denying Rots to send the Holstein-Stadion into celebration against a top-flight visitor missing two of its three kicks.

Match facts

• 11' — Adam Hložek (TSG Hoffenheim)
• 23' — Adrian Kapralik (Holstein Kiel)
• Penalties: Holstein Kiel 4-3 TSG Hoffenheim

Line-ups

Tim Walter's Kiel started in a 4-1-4-1 with Lio Rothenhagen in goal behind a back four of Ivan Nekic, Noah Madsen, Jonas Meffert and Leon Parduzi, Adrian Kapralik and Phil Harres leading the line. Giorgi Kvilitaia, John Tolkin and Faride Alidou were among the substitutes brought on as the game wore into extra time.

Hoffenheim lined up in a 4-2-3-1 under Christian Ilzer, Luca Philipp in goal and Andrej Kramaric up front behind Alexander Prass, Tim Lemperle and Adam Hložek. Valentin Gendrey had to be withdrawn injured before half-time, and Mats Rots, Fisnik Asllani, Adam Daghim, Bambasé Conté and Vladimír Coufal all came on across the 120 minutes.

A top-flight scalp from the division below

Kiel's run means a side from the 2. Bundesliga has now gone through to the last 16 at the expense of a Bundesliga club in this year's competition. Hoffenheim, for their part, arrived off the back of a 3-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen that had lifted them to 10th in the Bundesliga table on 9 points from 7 games — their second win in their last three league outings before the cup exit.

What's next

Holstein Kiel are into the DFB-Pokal round of 16, where the draw for the next round has yet to be made, and return to 2. Bundesliga duty away at Greuther Fürth. Hoffenheim go back to Bundesliga business from 10th place and have a Europa League trip to face Crystal Palace coming up next in the league phase.