A moment of composure from 20-year-old Ibrahim Maza was all it took for Bayer Leverkusen to shatter Borussia Dortmund’s formidable home record and secure a place in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) quarterfinals with a 1-0 victory at Signal Iduna Park.
Match Report: Maza’s Moment Decides Tight Cup Tie
Coming into the match on the back of a 2-1 Bundesliga defeat to Dortmund just three days prior, Leverkusen displayed tactical discipline and resilience. The decisive moment arrived in the 34th minute. Capitalizing on a lapse in Dortmund’s defense, young winger Ibrahim Maza found space and slotted home calmly to give the visitors a lead they would not relinquish.
Dortmund, unbeaten at home since March, pushed for an equalizer but struggled to break down a resolute Leverkusen defense. The visitors thought they had doubled their lead in the 62nd minute through Martin Terrier, but the goal was correctly ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Leverkusen managed the game expertly in the closing stages to seal a memorable away win and exact swift revenge for their weekend league loss.
Protest Overshadows Play
The match, like others across Germany, was marked by a fan protest. Supporters of both clubs observed 12 minutes of silence at the start to demonstrate against proposed new security measures they believe threaten fan culture.
Elsewhere in the DFB-Pokal
- RB Leipzig also advanced to the last eight with a 3-1 win over FC Magdeburg, thanks to a brace from Christoph Baumgartner.
- St. Pauli earned a dramatic 2-1 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach, with Louis Oppie scoring the winner in the 83rd minute.
- History was made as 16-year-old Kennet Eichhorn became the youngest scorer in post-war German Cup history, netting in Hertha Berlin’s 6-1 rout of Kaiserslautern.
The Road Ahead
For Leverkusen, this victory is a significant statement. Overcoming a recent defeat to a top rival, away from home, in a knockout match showcases their growing maturity under manager Xabi Alonso. They join Leipzig, St. Pauli, and Hertha Berlin in the quarterfinal draw.
For Dortmund, the defeat is a frustrating setback, ending both their home fortress record and their cup ambitions for the season. Their focus must now shift entirely to maintaining their Bundesliga title challenge.
