Emil Forsberg scored a 92nd-minute winner as RB Leipzig came from behind to beat Union Berlin and set up a DFB Cup final showdown with Freiburg.

RB Leipzig 2-1 Union Berlin
Goals: 0-1 Becker 25' (assist: Trimmel), 1-1 Silva (pen. 61'), 2-1 Forsberg 90'+1 (assist: Nkunku)

The Bundesliga’s form team in 2022, Leipzig started on the front foot as Dominik Szoboszlai dragged wide from a tight angle inside the Union box. The visitors responded in kind as Peter Gulacsi thwarted Grischa Prömel from close range, before Sheraldo Becker met Christoper Trimmel’s superb cross with a side-footed finish for 1-0. Leipzig should arguably have gone in level at the break, but striker Andre Silva shot wide from an unmarked position in the 18-yard area.

Willi Orban could do no better with a header soon after the restart, while Dani Olmo tested Frederik Ronnow from range. Taiwo Awoniyi then went within a whisker of turning in a Becker cross, an opening which only served to poke the Leipzig bear. Paul Jaeckel was adjudged to have fouled Christopher Nkunku in the penalty box following a VAR review, and Silva duly dispatched his spot-kick with 61 minutes played. The game appeared destined for extra-time, when substitute Forsberg headed in a Christopher Nkunku cross to send Leipzig through.

Match stats

• Leipzig are through to their third DFB Cup final in four years.
• Forsberg scored his 57th goal in 254 competitive appearances for Leipzig.
• Nkunku has three goals and three assists in five DFB Cup appearances so far this season.
• Domenico Tedesco is through to his first major final as a head coach.
• Becker's goal was the first Leipzig have conceded in this season's competition.
• Die Roten Bullen have only lost once in 2022.

Line-ups:

Leipzig: Gulacsi (c) - Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol (Halstenberg 90') - Henrichs, Szoboszlai (Forsberg 62'), Laimer, Angelino - Olmo - Silva (Poulsen 90'), Nkunku
Unused subs: Martinez, Adams, Mukiele, Raebiger, Novoa, Kampl
Out: Haidara (knee), Klostermann (not included)
Coach: Domenico Tedesco

Union: Ronnow - Jaeckel (Behrens 90'+2), Knoche, Baumgartl - Khedira - Trimmel (c), Haraguchi (Schäfer 64'), Prömel (Möhwald 90'+2), Oczipka - Becker (Voglsammer 77'), Awoniyi (Michel 77')
Unused subs: Busk, Ryerson, Gießelmann, Heintz
Out: Luthe (muscular)
Coach: Urs Fischer

As it happened!

2 - 1

(0 - 1)

Leipzig

FINAL

Union Berlin

DFB Pokal
Semi-final Semi-final Red Bull Arena

90'

+ 3

LEIPZIG REACH THE FINAL!

What a dramatic ending! It's perhaps a tad harsh on Union, who took the lead through Trimmel and defended well throughout, but Silva's penalty and Forsberg's late, late header have set up a final against Freiburg in Berlin next month!

Full-time

90'

+ 3

THE WINNER!

That's surely the knockout blow now! Moments after Jaeckel clears an Angelino shot off the line with his heel, Nkunku bends in a cross from the right that finds the head of Forsberg, who powers it into the net from close range!

90'

+ 2

Emil Forsberg

GOAL!

2:1

90'

+ 1

ADDED TIME

We're into the first of three minutes of stoppage time.

90'

Substitution

Yussuf Poulsen

André Silva

90'

Substitution

Marcel Halstenberg

Joško Gvardiol

89'

NKUNKU BLAZES OVER

A Leipzig free-kick from the left is worked to Nkunku. He jinks inside onto his right foot and has a shot, from a good 30 yards out, but it sails well over.

87'

EXTRA TIME LOOMING

We're just a few minutes away from full time and it's looking like we'll be heading to extra time unless there's late drama soon!

83'

MICHEL MAKING MISCHIEF

The Union forward outfoxes Orban with a neat turn on the edge of the box before sprinting towards goal. He's about to get a shot away but Simakan hurries across to block it for a corner.

80'

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

Union's introduction of Voglsammer and Michel, two muscular attackers, has changed things somewhat now. Leipzig aren't in control as much and are more wary of leaving themselves exposed at the back.

77'

Substitution

Sven Michel

Taiwo Awoniyi

77'

Substitution

Andreas Voglsammer

Sheraldo Becker

74'

TEDESCO URGING CALM

The Leipzig tactician can be seen on the touchline gesturing to his players, pushing his palms down and calling for a calm, unhurried approach as the game enters the closing stages.

71'

WIDE FROM AWONIYI

Union break forward again and Awoniyi leads the charge this time down the right. He gets to the edge of the penalty area and shifts inside onto his left foot, but his shot aiming for the far posts skews off target.

DROUGHT OVER

Silva hadn't scored in any competition in his last five outings, so his scream of delight at burying the penalty was understandable. He now has 16 goals this season across the Bundesliga (10), Champions League (3), Europa League (1) and DFB Cup, this latest one being his second of the campaign.

© IMAGO/Sven Sonntag/IMAGO/Picture Point LE

64'

Substitution

András Schäfer

Genki Haraguchi

62'

LEIPZIG LEVEL!

Silva steps up to take the spot kick and lashes an unerring effort into the net, leaving Ronnow no chance. Game on!

61'

André Silva

GOAL!

1:1

59'

PENALTY TO LEIPZIG

Nkunku goes down in the box under pressure from Jaeckel. Leipzig want a penalty, Union don't, so the referee goes to the pitch-side monitor for a VAR review. He has a quick look then points to the spot, much to the delight of the home crowd!

57'

UNION CLOSE TO A SECOND!

This is exactly what the visitors have been waiting for, a chance to hit Leipzig on the break. Becker sprints into space down the left and spies Awoniyi arriving unmarked at the back post. He delays his pass a moment too long though, and the Nigerian striker is unable to connect with the ball at the back post when a goal seemed inevitable.

55'

OLMO FROM RANGE

The Spain international finds himself in space in a central position, about 25 yards from goal. His low drive skims through a forest of legs but ROnnow watches it all the way and makes the save.

52'

ALL LEIPZIG

It's unrelenting pressure towards the Union goal at the moment, with wave after wave of Leipzig attacks: You get the sense momentum is building, but Union are wily old hands when it comes to defensive arts.

48'

ORBAN GOES CLOSE!

Henrichs pings a cross from the right into the box. It bounces up nicely for Orban, around 12 yards fro goal, but his downward header zooms wide of the post.

46'

UNDER WAY AGAIN

Union get the action started once more.

Kick-off!

45'

NARROW LEAD

Leipzig have had more of the ball and spent more time in the opposition's half, but it's Union who lead thanks to Becker's superbly worked goal. Silva could have equalised shortly before the break with the home side's best chance, only to fire wide. This one's sure to open up as the second half progresses, so don't go anywhere!

Half-time

45'

SAFE HANDS

A cross from the right is delivered into the Union box, looking for Silva, but Union keeper Ronnow plucks it from the air.

41'

UNION SITTING DEEP

The away side appear to be adopting a 'break us down if you can' approach, sitting back in their own half and inviting Leipzig to try to unpick one of the most well-drilled defences in the league. Leipzig are giving it a good go, but aside from that Silva chance moments ago, haven't been able to create much of note.

37'

WIDE FROM SILVA!

Some sensational one-touch passing from Leipzig in and around the Union penalty area completely bamboozles the visiting defence. Eventually Henrichs gets into the box and pulls the ball back for Silva, who's unmarked 10 yards out. It should be bread and butter for the Portuguese forward, but he somehow directs his shot wide of the post. Tedesco applauds his players on the touchline though; that was the best passage of play in the match so far.

GOALS FLOWING

That's two goals in his last three games for Becker, who was also on target in the Berlin derby against Hertha on Bundesliga Matchday 29. It's his second goal in the DFB Cup in 2021/22, following his strike against St. Pauli in the 2-1 quarter-final victory.

© IMAGO/Matthias Koch/IMAGO/Matthias Koch

31'

LEIPZIG PUSHING

The home side appear to have taken the goal conceded as a personal affront and are getting forward with greater purpose now. They're having trouble getting behind the Union defence though, and any crosses into the box are immediately gobbled up by the away side's towering centre-backs.

27'

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING

Becker's strike is the first goal Leipzig have conceded in this season's competition.

25'

UNION LEAD!

A lovely goal from the visitors and while it's Becker's name on the scoresheet, this one is all about Trimmel's assist. It's an outrageous, curling ball low across the box from the right wing, all the way to the back post. Becker is arriving and places a composed side-footed finish across Gulcasi and into the net!

25'

Sheraldo Becker

GOAL!

0:1

DEFENCES ON TOP

Awoniyi has barely had a sniff up front for Union yet, with Orban and Co on their game so far.

© RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

19'

PENALTY APPEAL

Henrichs peels behind the Union defence to collect a through-ball. His heel appears to be clipped as he charges towards goal and he tumbles to the ground, but the referee's assistant already has his flag raised for offside, so there's no question of it being a penalty.

15'

CHANCE FOR PRÖMEL

Gulcasi gets down well to his left to make a save in a crowded box, but Prömel is first to the rebound. He's at a tight angle off to the right and, with Gulacsi quickly back onto his feet to block the near post, the Union midfielder can only drill his shot into the side netting.

12'

OPENING FOR SZOBOSZLAI

Silva picks out Szoboszlai's run into the left-hand side of the Union box with a brilliant pass. The Hungarian controls it and shoots towards the far post, but he's at a difficult angle and ends up dragging his effort well wide.

11'

ROUTE ONE

Leipzig try a different approach to their customary quick passing, with a long ball punted forwards towards Nkunku. He nods it down for Silva, but the pair are quickly outnumbered by various grey-shirted Union defenders.

8'

TRIMMEL GETTING HIS EYE IN

Trimmel has two opportunities in quick succession to cross from the right. He fails to find a teammate in the box with either of them, but it's still early days. Could his usually pinpoint deliveries prove to be the key for Union here?

5'

FIRST OPENING

A murmur of anticipation ripples around the stadium as Nkunku suddenly finds himself in space down the Leipzig left. He scampers into the box and tries to pick out a pass for Szoboszlai, arriving on the edge of the area, but it's intercepted and hoofed clear.

3'

EVEN STEVENS

Both teams are understandably still trying to find their rhythm and are stroking the ball around the team when they get possession to give everyone a feel for it. No meaningful attacks at either end yet.

1'

HERE WE GO!

Leipzig get the ball rolling at the Red Bull Arena!

Kick-off!

GULACSI WINS THE TOSS

The Leipzig captain wins the coin toss and opts to kick off.

IN THE TUNNEL

The teams are about to take to the pitch - it's almost go time!

DOUBLE HEADER

There will be a swift opportunity for revenge for the vanquished side today, with the teams facing each other again, in the same stadium, on Bundesliga Matchday 31 this coming Saturday.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

This is the first time the teams have come across each other in the cup, but they have met nine times overall. Five of those have been in the Bundesliga, where Union have had the upper hand of late with two 2-1 wins. Leipzig won the other three top-flight encounters though. Prior to that, there were four games in Bundesliga 2, with two wins for Leipzig, one for Union and one draw.

2:03

WATCH: PREVIOUS MEETING: UNION 2-1 LEIPZIG

Union took all three points when these teams met earlier this season. Awoniyi and Nkunku exchanged early goals inside the opening quarter of an hour, before Baumgartl hit what turned out to be the winner in the second half.

TEAM NEWS - UNION

There are just two fresh faces for Union coach Urs Fischer following his team's 2-0 triumph over Frankfurt at the weekend. Team captain Trimmel starts on the right in place of Ryerson, who drops to the bench, while Oczipka begins in place of Gießelmann, who is likewise among the substitutes.

TEAM NEWS - LEIPZIG

Domenico Tedesco has made a whopping six changes to his side following the 1-0 win at Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend. Simakan replaces Klostermann on the right side of the back three, Henrichs comes in for Mukiele at right wing-back, Laimer takes Adams' place in central midfield, Halstenberg is in for Angelino on the left, Olmo starts in place of Forsberg, and Nkunku for Poulsen.

LEIPZIG STARTING XI

Gulacsi (c) - Simakan, Orban, Gvardiol - Henrichs, Szoboszlai, Laimer, Angelino - Olmo - Silva, Nkunku

LEIPZIG SUBS

Martinez, Poulsen, Forsberg, Adams, Mukiele, Halstenberg, Raebiger, Novoa, Kampl

UNION STARTING XI

Ronnow - Jaeckel, Knoche, Baumgartl - Khedira - Trimmel (c), Haraguchi, Prömel, Oczipka - Becker, Awoniyi

UNION SUBS

Busk, Ryerson, Voglsammer, Michel, Schäfer, Behrens, Gießelmann, Möhwald, Heintz

HELLO AND WELCOME!

Thanks for joining us for live build-up and coverage of today's semi-final, with Leipzig and Union both bidding to join Freiburg in the DFB Cup final next month.

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