In a thrilling cup encounter held at Berlin on 12 October 2024, Delay Sports Berlin emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over Polar Pinguin after an intense battle that extended into extra time. The match kicked off at 4:15pm, with a spirited crowd of 1,394 fans witnessing a contest filled with drama and pivotal moments.
Delay Sports Berlin adopted a 4-2-3-1 formation, aiming to dominate the midfield while providing support to their lone striker. Frederik Mittelstädt took his place in goal, shielded by a back four consisting of Alexander Letz on the right, Robin Traboulsi and Sky-Vincent Tloczynski in central defence, and Deniz-Kaan Hirik on the left. The midfield duo of Michael Dada and Niklas Jahn was tasked with controlling the tempo of the game, while Timo Schlitt and Bilal Kamarieh operated as right and left attacking midfielders, respectively. Sidney Friede played centrally, just behind striker Junior Torunarigha, who was expected to lead the line with his pace and physicality.
The substitutes for Delay Sports Berlin included Paul Beckmann, Sebastian Gick, Zulu Ernst, Luca Incannova, and Patryk Filipiak, who would later play crucial roles as the match unfolded.
The match began with Polar Pinguin striking first, taking the lead in the 13th minute. The goal came as a shock to Delay Sports Berlin, who had started brightly but found themselves trailing early on. As the first half progressed, the home side struggled to find their rhythm, leading to a yellow card for one of their players in the 23rd minute, a sign of their growing frustration.
In a significant turn of events, Delay Sports Berlin was forced to make an early substitution in the 27th minute due to an injury to Deniz-Kaan Hirik, bringing on Paul Beckmann. This change would prove pivotal as Beckmann later provided the assist for Delay's equaliser in the 40th minute, with Sidney Friede finding the back of the net to level the score just before half-time.
The second half saw both teams come out with renewed vigour. Delay Sports Berlin received another yellow card in the 60th minute, reflecting the intensity of the match as the players battled for control. The half-time whistle blew shortly after, with the score tied at 1-1.
As the second half unfolded, Delay Sports Berlin made further tactical adjustments. In the 62nd minute, Sebastian Gick replaced Michael Dada, bringing fresh energy to the midfield. The home side continued to press for a winner, but their efforts were met with resistance, leading to another substitution in the 71st minute as Zulu Ernst came on for Junior Torunarigha.
With the match entering its final stages, Delay Sports Berlin made their third substitution in the 83rd minute, introducing Luca Incannova for Bilal Kamarieh. The tension heightened as Robin Traboulsi received a yellow card in the 84th minute, followed by another caution for Paul Beckmann in the 90th minute, as both teams fought fiercely for dominance.
As the match approached extra time, the intensity did not wane. The first half of extra time saw a yellow card issued in the 100th minute, further illustrating the high stakes of the encounter. In a dramatic climax, Sidney Friede scored his second goal of the match in the 119th minute, assisted by Zulu Ernst, sending the home crowd into raptures and giving Delay Sports Berlin a 2-1 lead.
Despite the late drama, Zulu Ernst received a yellow card in the dying moments of the match, but it could not overshadow the team's hard-fought victory. Delay Sports Berlin held on to their lead, securing a place in the next round of the cup and leaving Polar Pinguin to reflect on a valiant effort in a closely contested match.
