Leipzig begins its German Cup defense with nervy 3-2 win at Wehen Wiesbaden

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:56 PM CDT Wednesday, Sep. 27, 2023

WIESBADEN, Germany (AP) — Two-time defending champion Leipzig withstood a stirring fightback to squeeze into the second round of the German Cup with a 3-2 win at second-division Wehen Wiesbaden on Wednesday.

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This article was published 27/09/2023 (1102 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The visitors raced into a 2-0 lead with goals from Emil Forsberg and Benjamin Šeško and went on to dominate the early stages, but Ivan Prtajin pulled one back before the break and the home team pushed hard for the equalizer after it.

Šeško thought he’d sealed the win with his second goal in the 70th minute, but Prtajin replied three minutes later.

Leipzig's Xavi Simons, right, and his teammate Emil Forsberg, left, celebrate their side's third goal during the German soccer cup first round match between SV Wehen Wiesbaden and RB Leipzig in Wiesbaden, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. Leipzig defeated Wiesbaden by 3-2. (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

Leipzig needed goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi at his best to preserve the win in a nervy finish. Gulácsi, the team’s former captain, was making his first appearance in nearly a year after his cruciate ligament rupture.

Leipzig next plays Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga on Saturday before facing Manchester City in the Champions League on Wednesday.