Ache Ragnar takes a shot in the German cup final in Berlin Saturday night as FCK captain Jean Zimmer watches. (Facebook/1. FC Kaiserslautern)
Despite a courageous effort against Bundesliga champion Bayer 04 Leverkusen, the Red Devils lost the German cup final Saturday night in Berlin 1-0.
A goal by Granit Xhaka in the 16th minute would be all Leverkusen would need to beat the second division underdog.
1. FC Kaiserslautern started the game strong with Kenny Prince Redondo driving the ball towards the box only to be fouled by Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou. who was carded.
The game went back and forth until Xhaka got his shot from about 30 yards out past FCK keeper Julian Kral and into the net.
Despite the deficit the Red Devils kept on the attack but could not break through the Leverkusen defense.
FCK got a break when Kossounou fouled Redondo in the 44th minute and was sent from the field.
Shortly before the half Kaiserslautern had their best, and only real chance of the game when Tobias Raschl’s shot missed the left post by inches.
At the beginning of the second half Kaiserslautern fans lit torches and shot off fireworks, stopping play for more than three minutes.
Despite being a man up, the Red Devils never got much of an offense going in the second half. Leverkusen kept control of the ball and the game on their way to winning their second German cup final after 1993.
For departing FCK coach Friedhelm Funkel, it was his third loss in a cup final at the helm of a team. It was the Red Devils’ sixth loss in a cup final in eight tries. They took home the cup in 1990 and 1996.
Despite the loss, fans can celebrate their team Sunday downtown on Stiftsplatz. Gates open at 1 p.m., with live music and entertainment. The team is expected to take the stage around 5 p.m., with festivities concluding at 8 p.m.
May 25, 2024 23:17
