Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko celebrates his side’s third goal during the German DFB Cup first division football match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and RB Leipzig at BRITA Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpaNewcomer Benjamin Sesko scored a brace to lead two-time reining champions RB Leipzig to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the German Cup on Wednesday.
Emil Forsberg broke the deadlock for Leipzig in the seventh minute and Sesko doubled the lead in the 18th as it looked like the Bundesliga side were headed for an easy victory against their second division opponent.
Wiesbaden, however, recovered from nowhere in the 41st through Ivan Prtajin and returned with a much improved performance in the second half.
An error from Kevin Kampl gave Wiesbaden a huge chance in the 63rd, but goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi prevented the equalizer before Sesko got a brace in the 70th.
Prtajin, however, also scored a brace three minutes later to reduce Leipzig’s lead to one goal again. Wiesbaden threw everything they had at the Reining champions, but Gulacsi was a crucial player in the final minutes, making two superb saves to ensure Leipzig progressed to the second round.
Leipzig striker Timo Werner missed the match due to back problems, while Gulacsi returned after a year on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The first round of the German Cup was originally played in August, but Leipzig played in and won the German Super Cup against Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on the same weekend.
Bayern beat third-division team Preußen Münster 4-0 on Tuesday.
Wiesbaden’s Ivan Prtajin celebrates his side’s first goal during the first German DFB Cup football match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and RB Leipzig at BRITA Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa
Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko (L) celebrates his side’s second goal with teammate Benjamin Henrichs during the German DFB Cup first division football match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and RB Leipzig at BRITA Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa
Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg (L) celebrates his side’s first goal with teammate Benjamin Henrichs during the German DFB Cup first division football match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and RB Leipzig at BRITA Arena. Uwe Anspach/dpa
