Dejan Ljubicic Leads 1. FC Köln to First DFB-Pokal Quarterfinal Since 2010

Despite a dramatic miss earlier, Ljubicic's decisive penalty secured a 2-1 victory over Hertha BSC in extra time.

1. FC Köln defeated Hertha BSC 2-1 in extra time to reach their first DFB-Pokal quarterfinal in 14 years.
Dejan Ljubicic redeemed himself after a shocking miss by scoring the match-winning penalty in the final moments of extra time.
Köln played with a man advantage from the 25th minute after Hertha's Deyovaisio Zeefuik received a red card for a violent conduct foul.
Head coach Gerhard Struber praised Ljubicic's maturity and resilience, calling him a key player for the team's success.
Struber described the challenging match as a 'fettes Brett' (a tough challenge), highlighting Köln's struggles despite their numerical advantage.