VfL Bochum have reached the last eight of the DFB Cup for the first time in six years. Milos Pantovic played a big part in that, although he still had to line up at the back at the weekend.
Milos Pantovic did not harbour any grudges last weekend after the match in Mainz (0:1), even though Sebastian Polter had snatched the penalty away from him beforehand and then missed it. “My God, it happens,” Pantovic had said at the time.
That was just three days ago, and now, in the last 16 of the DFB Cup against Mainz – the same opponent – he had another chance from the spot. The difference: Polter was on the bench this time, so there was no discussion and Pantovic converted safely as well as cheekily into the middle for the interim 1:1 (56.).
“It doesn’t matter who scores the goals “
Just three minutes later, he sent the 750 fans on Castroper Straße into raptures for a second time with a sensitive lob, making him the match-winner in Bochum’s 3-1 win. “It’s nice for me, but it doesn’t matter who scores the goals. The team’s success is the most important thing,” said the double goal scorer diplomatically on the Sky microphone after the match.
This “success” is something to be proud of: As a promoted team, VfL has 23 points in the league and has reached the quarter-finals of the cup for the first time in six years. Bochum have only gone further twice: in 1968 and 1988, both times finishing in the final. So maybe the fans can even dream of a big win this season?
Great chance for the last eight
One thing is clear: All cup winners of the last 26 years have been eliminated and for the first time since the 2006/2007 season, neither FC Bayern nor Borussia Dortmund are in the quarter-finals. The chance for the remaining eight seems to be greater this year than it has been for a long time.