Former Hertha star Fabian Reese returned to Berlin as VfL Wolfsburg defeated VSG Altglienicke 9-8 in a thrilling DFB-Pokal match. The 28-year-old forward, who spent three years at the club, experienced his emotional homecoming in front of 5,000 fans.
The match took place at Hertha BSC's amateur stadium and was a nerve-wracker that only ended in a penalty shootout. While Reese moved to Wolfsburg in the summer, the memory of his time in the capital remained palpable. The dramatic course of the game saw even Reese miss a penalty.
Jonas Nietfeld gave Wolfsburg the lead early in the 6th minute. However, Altglienicke did not hold out long until Maxi Arnold scored twice in the 55th and 83rd minutes. Jonas Saliger helped the equalizer in the 71st minute, sending the tension through the roof.
The drama truly began after regulation time. Mehmet Ibrahimi scored for Wolfsburg in the 110th minute before Hauke Wahl equalized for 8-8 in the 117th. The 9-8 result was finally decided on penalties, where the Wolfsburg keeper saved two kicks.
Famous faces were seen in the stands. Linus Gechter, Kevin Sessa, Deyovaisio Zeefuik, Marton Dardai, Toni Leistner, and Diego Demme watched the action. Bence Dardai also came on in the 78th minute, while John Brooks sat on the bench for Altglienicke.
The victory ensures Wolfsburg advances to the next round, while Altglienicke were disappointed despite their strong performance. For Fabian Reese, the return to Berlin was an unusual experience in his new season, even if the missed penalty could have caused frustration.
