Fourth tier SSV Ulm stun DFB Pokal holders Frankfurt in first round | OneFootball

DFB Pokal holders Eintracht Frankfurt have suffered humiliation, losing to fourth-tier side SSV Ulm in the first round of this season’s competition.

Having won the German Cup last year, Frankfurt had been expected to comfortably see off Ulm, who finished 16th in the south-west edition of Germany’s regional leagues last season.

However, the holders were sent packing by two second half goals.

Just last week Frankfurt lost 5-0 to Bayern Munich, managed by former Frankfurt head coach Nico Kovač, in their first game under new boss Adi Hütter. Both then and again this weekend, it’s unclear how Hütter wants the team to play and the result has been an embarrassing start to the new season.

Having failed to get going at Ulm on Saturday, Frankfurt could have few complaints about the opening goal. Ulm turned up the pressure, hitting the post with a header before Steffen Kienle hit the woodwork with the rebound. That time, the ball struck Frankfurt goalkeeper Frederik Rønnow on the back and trickled over the line.

Pushing forward in search of a response, Frankfurt left gaps at the back and were punished. Vitalij Lux broke away, racing beyond Carlos Salcedo, and cooly lifted the ball over Rønnow after the Dane dove too soon.

A late Gonçalo Paciência goal gave Frankfurt some hope but it was too little, too late.

It’s the first time in 22 years the DFB Pokal holders have been knocked out in the first round.