Yussuf Poulsen and Hwang Hee-Chan fire RB Leipzig past Wolfsburg and into DFB Cup semi-finals
Wolfsburg conceded twice in a game for the first time since they last faced RB Leipzig, on Matchday 16 in the Bundesliga, as goals from Yussuf Poulsen and Hwang Hee-Chan helped Leipzig booked a place in the final four of the DFB Cup while Wout Weghorst missed a first-half penalty.
A DFB Cup quarter-final between the second and third-placed teams in the Bundesliga was also going to be a pulsating encounter, and that's what we got from the first whistle at the Red Bull Arena. Leipzig took control in the early stages and were only denied an opening goal by the heroics of Koen Casteels, who dived across his goalline to keep out Christopher Nklunku's header after Dani Olmo's cross from just two yards out. Another golden chance then fell to Justin Kluivert, but his header was a simpler task for Casteels this time. Wolfsburg began to push forward themselves after a quiet 20 minutes and they had the best chance of the first half to take the lead after 25 minutes. Marco Fritz checked a challenge from Nkunku on Kevin Mbabu in the Leipzig penalty area and pointed to the spot. Wout Weghorst stepped up but slipped as he shot and fired the spot-kick high over the crossbar. The game opened up further from there with Leipzig having a goal from Kluivert ruled out for offside before the final chance of the half fell Wolfsburg's way. Maxence Lacroix broke from defence and played Renato Steffen in on goal, only for a Peter Gulacsi knee to block his toe-poked shot at goal.
The second half showed no change of pace as Leipzig went close twice in the opening minutes. Poulsen was brilliant backheeled in on goal by Nkunku but Casteels blocked his shot away before Nkunku was on the end of Kluivert's cut-back 10 yards from goal but found Mbabu in his way. Leipzig stayed on top and finally made their pressure pay after the hour-mark. Substitute Alexander Sörloth made the difference with his outstanding through-ball matching Poulsen's run, and his shot took a deflection past Casteels at his near-post. Wolfsburg had struggled to get going in the second half but Josip Brekalo shot at goal with 10 minutes to play with Nordi Mukiele blocking it behind. Leipzig continued to press as Wolfsburg pushed on for an equaliser and Die Roten Bullen's semi-final place was sealed with two minutes to play as Hwang fired home a rebound after Emil Forsberg's close-range effort was saved by Casteels.
Match stats
With his fifth goal in the competition, Poulsen is now the top scorer in this season's DFB Cup.
Nagelsmann has reached the semi-finals of a major tournament for the second time in as many seasons, having taken Leipzig to the last four of the UEFA Champions League in 2019/20. His team are yet to concede in this season's DFB Cup.
Wolfsburg conceded for the first time in 999 minutes of competitive football since playing out a 2-2 draw with Leipzig on Bundesliga Matchday 16.
The Wolves - winners in 2014/15 - have been eliminated by Leipzig in each of the last three seasons, losing 1-0 in the 2018/19 round of 16 and 6-1 in the 2019/20 second round.
Maximilian Arnold made his 300th competitive appearance for Wolfsburg.
DFB Pokal Quarter-finals Quarter-finals Red Bull Arena
End of second half
90'
ADDED TIME!
We'll have four minutes of time added on at the end of the second half.
88'
HWANG SEALS THE SEMI-FINAL SPOT!
Sörloth battles past Brooks into the Wolfsburg area and crosses into the area. Mbabu and Casteels block it away ahead of Forsberg but the ball comes to the back post where substitute Hwang is all alone to smash the rebound into the back of the net.
Forsberg does superbly to reach Haidara's pass into the Wolfsburg area and clip it across goal just before it rolls over the byline. Sörloth moves to the near post and tries to flick it at goal, but he's unlucky not to get enough on the ball in the end.
80'
DOUBLE CHANGE
Some fresh legs going forward and defensive support as Henrichs and Forsberg come on for Leipzig.
A lovely cut inside from Brekalo opens space for a shot ahead of Adams. The ball deflects off Mukiele and hits the side-netting on the way behind. For a second, that looked like it had nestled in the bottom corner.
75'
INTO THE FINAL 15...
Wolfsburg haven't really gotten going in this second half with Leipzig keeping good control of the game. But, they have fresh legs on in attack and potentially fresh ideas. This game is far from over yet.
72'
TRIPLE CHANGE
Glasner's swaps entire the entire attacking support for Weghorst with Philipp, Victor and Brekalo all on for these final 20 minutes of normal time.
Wolfsburg's incredible run of not conceding is over at a remarkable 999 minutes in all competitions.
63'
POULSEN PUTS LEIPZIG AHEAD!
And Sörloth was the difference-maker again. It's a fantastic double one-two between Sörloth and Poulsen and the substitute is down the right wing. He plays an incredible pass inside which beats Schlager and Poulsen reaches. He pushes on into the area and his shot from 12 yards takes a deflection past Casteels, and that's their run of not conceding gone in all competitions.
Sörloth comes on for Kluivert to join the Leipzig attack. He also came on from the bench at the weekend against Gladbach and grabbed a goal and assist.
Leipzig find space in behind down the right with Kluivert and his cut-back finds Nkunku in the area. His first touch is a heavy one and so Mbabu recovers to make a crucial block on his shot in front of goal.
52'
HUGE CHANCE!
Leipzig do fantastically to win the ball just outside the Wolfsburg area, and Nkunku's backheel sends Poulsen in on goal. He has only Casteels to beat to the left of goal and goes low with his shot, but Casteels is able to meet it with his legs for another big save. He won't be giving up this clean sheet record easily.
50'
TENSE START
We had a very lively start to the first half, but it's been more controlled at the beginning of this second period. Both defences looking solid and Leipzig, in particular, looking to keep the ball when possible.
46'
BACK UNDERWAY!
Haidara is on for Orban at the break, moving Mukiele into the middle and Adams to right-back.
Superb from Lacroix, who dribbles forward from midfield and sends Steffen in behind. He races onto the pass ahead of Orban and pokes the ball at goal, but Gulacsi makes a big, big save in the one-on-one.
38'
SCHLAGER ON TARGET
The midfielder dribbles along the edge of Leipzig's area before shooting low at goal. Gulacsi makes an awkward save and the rebound falls to Weghorst, who fires it back at him only for Gulacsi to produce a second save. To save Weghorst's blushes this time, the offside flag is up against him.
WEGHORST'S SLIP UP
The Dutchman's standing foot slipped as he took his penalty kick in the first half.
Leipzig do have the ball in the Wolfsburg net, but it's offisde against Nkunku after he latched onto a long ball over the top before passing to Kluivert who provided the finish.
29'
END-TO-END STUFF!
This game has now burst into life with Leipzig falling out of the early rhythm they had found, while Wolfsburg are beginning to find their flow.
26'
WEGHORST MISSES!
Incredible scenes in Leipzig. Weghorst steps up, Gulacsi dives to his right, but the Dutchman slips as he hits the penalty kick and the ball flies over the crossbar. He punches the ground straight away and that's a big chance blown.
A check with VAR shows a foul from Nkunku on Mbabu and Wolfsburg have a penalty.
23'
BIG CHANCE!
Now it's Wolfsburg's turn to have a big chance in front of goal. Arnold's next corner is cleared to Schlager once again but this time his volley comes to Mbabu in space at the back post. He controls and goes to get a shot away, but it's wide across goal while under a challenge from Nkunku.
23'
SCHLAGER SHOT BLOCKED!
Arnold's free-kick is cleared out as far as Schlager on the edge of the Leipzig area and it's deflected behind off Upamecano.
21'
OLMO BOOKED
Another yellow card for Leipzig with Olmo cautioned right after Kampl for a foul on Steffen.
Another golden opportunity for an opener with a header. Nkunku flicks the ball across goal and a lovely flick to him from Poulsen after a throw-in. This time it's Kluivert all alone at the opposite post, but he angles his header too low and it bounces down and then into the grasp of Casteels on his goalline. Leipzig causing Wolfsburg problems here.
15'
LEIPZIG ON TOP
The home side have dominated the opening 15 minutes here. They're in control of the ball and keeping Wolfsburg penned back in their own half. Olmo and Kluivert have been heavily involved, but Wolfsburg's defence is standing up to the task thus far.
12'
SOMEHOW NOT 1-0!
I don't think anyone in the Red Bull Arena can believe it, but Leipzig have somehow been kept out by Koen Casteels. It's a lovely lofted cross to the back post where Nkunku is all alone to head at goal from just two yards out. Casteels springs across and dives to parry the header off his line and away. What an incredible save from Wolfsburg's man in form.
EARLY TUSSLES
Tyler Adams is going up against Xaver Schlager in a must-watch midfield battle. We'll be keeping a close eye on those two through the evening.
As we expected, Leipzig are playing with a four-man defence this evening even without some missing pieces. Klostermann is the makeshift left-back in place of Marcel Halstenberg. Next to him are Upamecano, Orban and Mukiele on the right.
5'
OTAVIO BOOKED
The Wolfsburg left-back is cautioned for a late foul on Mukiele. An early card for the Wolfsburg defence to take.
The Wolfsburg midfielder spots Gulacsi off his line with a touch of space in midfield. He pings a shot at goal, but it doesn't have the power behind it needed to test Gulacsi properly. A very intense start to this game so far.
2'
EARLY OFFENSIVE
Leipzig looking to put the Wolfsburg defence under early pressure here with Kluivert, who is starting out up the right flank.
1'
HERE WE GO!
The ball is rolling in Leipzig, it's second against third in the Bundesliga for a place in the DFB Cup semi-finals. A massive night of football awaits us.
Kick-off!
OTHER RESULTS
We already know two of the semi-finalists for the DFB Cup after Borussia Dortmund beat Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-0 last night. This evening, Holstein Kiel have booked their place after a 1-0 win over Rot-Weiss Essen. The other tie - between Jahn Regensburg and Werder Bremen - has had to be rescheduled and will be played at a later date.
IN THE BUNDESLIGA
These two sides have met only once in the Bundesliga this season, with the second game between them still to come on the penultimate weekend of the season. Each of their last league meetings have ended in draws, while in last season's DFB Cup, Leipzig smashed Wolfsburg 6-1 in the second round. Something special would need to have for that to repeat itself tonight, with Wolfsburg going 666 minutes without conceding a goal.
2:03
WATCH: WOLFSBURG 2-2 LEIPZIG - BUNDESLIGA
These two sides shared the spoils when they met in January this year in the Bundesliga.
LEIPZIG TEAM NEWS
Sörloth has registered a goal and an assist off the bench lately, and that is where he starts again, while Angelino is still out with a minor muscle complaint. Upamecano continues in the heart of defence as he bids to sign off with some silverware prior to his summer transfer to Bayern.
WOLFSBURG TEAM NEWS
Glasner has largely stuck to the same starting XI during that period, but makes changes here: Brooks returns at centre-back in place of Pongracic after serving a one-match ban in the 2-0 win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday. At the other end of the pitch, top scorer Weghorst, who has scored three in the cup this term, is due a goal after failing to find the net in his last three league outings.
