🧬 Klassiker full of drama: DNA knock the Eagles out | OneFootball

The quarterfinal between DNA Athletics and the Fokus Eagles was a true classic of the Icon League. Clashes between these two teams have always been intense—both on and off the pitch. There are also close connections away from the court: the two team heads, Niklas Sommer and Sidney Friede, are among the closest friends of Icon League President Elias Nerlich. But in the quarterfinal, none of that mattered anymore. There was only one thing at stake: a place in the semifinals. 

From the very beginning, DNA Athletics made it clear that they were determined to reach the final that evening. As early as the 4th minute, Amar Cekic opened the scoring to make it 1-0. After that, DNA increasingly took control and clearly put their stamp on the game.

The Fokus Eagles barely got a foothold, while DNA launched attack after attack. By halftime, the score was already 4-0—a lead that reflected the course of the game. The Eagles had an off day and once again showed the fluctuations in performance that had accompanied them throughout the season.

Even after the break, the picture initially did not change. Shortly after the restart, Maximilian Grünberg increased the lead to 5-0 with a long-range shot off the inside post.

After strong work from Sidney Friede, Fatih Baca scored the first goal for the Eagles, sparking a brief comeback. A quick double strike from Aaron Herzog and a goal by Ali Wazneh brought the Eagles back to 6-4 and gave them hope. But at the latest, Cekic’s 7-4 in the final minute sealed the decision once and for all.

With this, DNA Athletics deservedly advance to the semifinals, where they will face Two Stripes United.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.