2017 DFB-Pokal Final

Lore & Background

Eintracht Frankfurt, in their first final since 2006, faced Borussia Dortmund, the runners-up in the previous three finals. As winners, Borussia Dortmund hosted the 2017 edition of the DFL-Supercup at the start of the next season, and faced the champions of the 2016–17 edition of the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich. The winners of the DFB-Pokal were also to earn automatic qualification for the group stage of the 2017–18 edition of the UEFA Europa League, but since Borussia Dortmund had already qualified for the 2017–18 edition of the UEFA Champions League through their position in the Bundesliga, the group stage spot went to the team in sixth, Hertha BSC, and the league's third qualifying round spot to the team in seventh, SC Freiburg.

In Their Own Story

The Berlin air crackled with electric anticipation as the final whistle blew on a tense, goalless ninety minutes at the Olympiastadium. In the penalty shootout, the stadium's roar seemed to vanish, replaced by a suffocating silence that hung heavy over the pitch. Roman Bürki stood his ground in the box, eyes locked on Sebastian Rode, who stepped up for Eintracht Frankfurt. The run-up, the strike—then the sickening thud of leather against steel as Rode's shot cannoned off the post and bounced away. A collective gasp tore through the stadium before erupting into a deafening roar for Dortmund. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang approached the spot next, his face an unreadable mask of ice while Mario Götze clapped rhythmically from the bench. The referee signaled; the run-up began; and with a thunderous strike that left no doubt, the net bulged. 2-0 in the shootout. As Shinji Kagawa calmly converted the final spot-kick to seal the deal, the Black and Yellow players collapsed into one another, tears of relief mixing with sweat under the floodlights. They had survived the ordeal, lifting the silverware that would define a season otherwise marked by struggle.

Reader's Guide

Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring for Borussia Dortmund in the 8th minute. Ante Rebić equalised in the 29th minute for Eintracht Frankfurt. Borussia Dortmund were awarded a penalty in the 67th minute when goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký tripped Christian Pulisic. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored from the penalty, chipping the ball to the center of the goal with his right foot. The match ended 2–1 to Borussia Dortmund. Deniz Aytekin officiated the match, with assistants Christian Dietz and Eduard Beitinger, and fourth official Benjamin Brand.

Did You Know?

• The match was decided in regular time, not a penalty shootout.
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the winning goal from a penalty in the 67th minute.
• Eintracht Frankfurt's starting goalkeeper was Lukáš Hrádecký, not Kevin Trapp.
• Borussia Dortmund's victory did not earn them a UEFA Europa League spot; that went to Hertha BSC.
• The head coach of Borussia Dortmund at the time was Thomas Tuchel, not Peter Bosz.