Wolfsburg's players celebrate the opening goal during the German soccer cup first round match between SV Hemelingen and VfL Wolfsburg in Bremen, Germany, Saturday, Aug 16, 2025. (Carmen Jaspersen/dpa via AP)

Wolfsburg routs 5th-tier team Hemelingen 9-0 in German Cup

BERLIN (AP) — Wolfsburg routed fifth-tier SV Hemelingen 9-0 in the first round of the German Cup on Saturday, when other Bundesliga teams also enjoyed big wins over lower-league opposition.

Two-time champion Leipzig twice came from behind to beat fourth-tier SV Sandhausen 4-2 with new signings Ezechiel Banzuzi and Yan Diomande scoring.

Heidenheim won at 10-man fourth-tier Bahlinger SC 5-0, Hoffenheim won at third-division Hansa Rostock 4-0, and Freiburg won at fourth-tier club Sportfreunde Lotte 2-0.

Hamburger SV, which clinched its return to the Bundesliga last season, survived a scare at fifth-tier Pirmasens, equalizing late to send the match to extra time, where Ransford-Yeboah Königsdörffer headed the winner for 2-1.

Königsdörffer was playing for Hamburg only because a proposed early August move to Nice broke down after his medical check with the French team.

Bochum also needed a late goal to level before prevailing at nine-man Dynamo Berlin 3-1.

Also, second-division side Darmstadt won at fourth-tier Lübeck 2-1, and third-division Energie Cottbus won 1-0 to upset Hannover, which is playing in the division above.

Bayern Munich was playing defending champion Stuttgart in the German Supercup later Saturday.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Hamburg’s Guilherme Ramos, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side’s first goal during the German soccer cup first round match between FK Pirmasens and Hamburger SV in Pirmasens, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)
Leipzig’s Ezechiel Banzuzi, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the German soccer cup first round match between SV Sandhausen and RB Leipzig in Sandhausen, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)
Leipzig’s Ezechiel Banzuzi, right, celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal during the German soccer cup first round match between SV Sandhausen and RB Leipzig in Sandhausen, Germany, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles