The Amateurs' Final Day is unique in its form and scope and thrills soccer fans throughout Germany year after year. The tenth edition of the format, in which 20* men's cup finals of the DFB regional associations were broadcast in a multi-part live TV conference on 24 May 2025, was once again watched by several million viewers on "Das Erste". The broadcast ensured strong ratings for more than seven hours, with market shares consistently above 12%. In addition, many matches were also available in full length as live streams on the respective online offerings of the producing state broadcasters, on sportschau.de and in the ARD media library. Around 123,000 spectators watched the cup finals on site in the 20 final stadiums, providing an atmospheric backdrop for the broadcast.

The ARD TV broadcast was divided into four sub-conferences with different kick-off times. The first block of matches, which kicked off at 12:30 p.m., reached 860,000 viewers with a market share of 12.6 percent. The second conference from 14:30 increased to 1.12 million viewers (13.2 percent market share). The third block from 16:30 was particularly strong with 1.63 million viewers and a market share of 14.9 percent. The final block was the conference from 17:30, which achieved a market share of 13.8% with 1.90 million viewers.

"Amateur soccer offers emotional highlights"

Dirk Brennecke, coordinator of the Amateurs' Final Day and Managing Director of the Central Rhine Football Association, said: "The Amateurs' Final Day 2025 has once again shown the potential for identification in amateur soccer. The stories written on this day deserve this big stage. We would like to thank ARD and its state broadcasters for the excellent implementation and are delighted with the great interest - both in the stadiums and in front of the screens."

ARD Sports Coordinator Axel Balkausky emphasized: "The 2025 Amateur Final Day celebrated an extremely successful anniversary. The strong viewer response to the tenth edition of the format was even better than in previous years. Amateur soccer always offers emotion, excitement and the best stories - and we are delighted to be able to make these visible through our live broadcasts."

The eleventh edition of the amateur final day is planned for May 23, 2026 - once again on the day of the men's DFB Cup final.

*Due to Arminia Bielefeld's participation in the DFB Cup final, thestate cup final of the Football and Athletics Association of Westphalia (FLVW) could not be played on the amateur final day and was therefore not part of the ARD conference on May 24, 2025.

The Mommsenstadion celebrated a roaring soccer festival! In front of a sold-out crowd of 8,400 spectators, BSV Eintracht Mahlsdorf and BFC Dynamo faced each other in the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for Men's 1st Division in the tenth edition of the Amateur Final Day on May 24, 2025. BFC won a thrilling match 2:0 and thus advanced to the first round of the DFB Cup with their eighth state cup victory.

Right up to operating temperature

Both teams started the game highly motivated and wanted to leave no doubt that they would give their all to win the cup. It became hectic in the Dynamo penalty area after just a few seconds, but BFC keeper Hainke was able to save the ball under pressure just beyond the edge of the penalty area.

Mahlsdorf were not the only team to show their presence in front of goal; Dynamo also attracted attention with a number of attacking moves and even took the lead after 21 minutes: a targeted through ball on the right wing reached Henry Crosthwaite, who burst into the box and beat Eintracht goalkeeper Büchel with a powerful shot into the far corner - 1:0 for Weinrot-Weiß!

The Dynamos went on to create a number of situations in the penalty area without being able to produce any compelling finishes, while Mahlsdorf's chances near goal were more sporadic. The Purple & White's most dangerous chance came in the 28th minute when Valentin Rode failed to beat Hainke with a shot from the edge of the sixteen after a defensive lapse by Dynamo. BFC Dynamo went into the half-time break with a narrow lead.

Success in superior numbers

The second half got off to a cautious start. Both teams tried to attack, but there were no really compelling chances. In the 63rd minute, the unit, which had been performing well up to that point, weakened itself: Anton Kanther committed one foul too many and was sent off with a yellow-red card by referee Christoph Beblik. As a result, BFC began to gain more of an advantage. Kevin Lankford, for example, forced Mahlsdorf keeper Büchel into a strong flying save from an 18-meter free-kick (73').

After Lankford's close-range effort failed to score, it was he who finally put BFC on the road to victory a few minutes later: David Grözinger's impressive finish from a half-left position was clawed out of the right-hand triangle by Büchel, who made a strong save, but the Mahlsdorf goalkeeper was powerless against Lankford's follow-up shot from close range. So it was 2:0 for the GDR record champions.

In the final phase, the decimated Mahlsdorf side made a real effort to change the result. Rico Gladrow created Eintracht's best chance with a powerful volley from the edge of the box after a free-kick had been blocked by the BFC wall (84'). However, keeper Hainke was on hand to make a brilliant save and secure a 2-0 victory for BFC Dynamo. The Weinrot-Weissen thus won the Berlin state cup for the eighth time in the club's history and were duly celebrated by their fans after the match for their DFB Cup entry.

Berlin's summer of finals continues on Wednesday evening, May 28, at the Poststadion with the final of the Nike Youth Cup for A-juniors: To the schedule overview with ticket links.

When the first note sounds, the game begins - even before the ball rolls. The warm-up music at a soccer match is far more than just background music. It is the emotional prelude that creates goosebumps, makes hearts beat faster and puts the stadium in a collective state of tension.

For the tenth edition of the amateur final day on May 24, 2025, the DFB's organizing state and regional associations have had their own warm-up music composed, which will be played in all 20 final stadiums. The piece was produced by someone who knows soccer and the emotions just before kick-off: Lasse Koslowski. The Berlin native has been a DFB referee since 2014, has refereed Bundesliga 2 matches since 2016 and assists in the Bundesliga. He has also been listed as a FIFA Assistant Referee since 2023. Before refereeing became his main profession, Koslowski trained as a musician and worked as a freelance pianist, piano teacher and composer. The 37-year-old was able to combine his two great passions to compose the final day warm-up music. In this interview, he talks about this special project close to his heart.

Hello Lasse, the warm-up music you composed will be played in 20 stadiums across Germany on the tenth amateur final day. How does this performance make you feel?

First and foremost, I'm very grateful that this has been made possible for me and it really is a dream come true for me. Ever since I started making music, I've hoped to be able to write something for an event of major significance. The fact that my piece is the official warm-up music for the amateur final day is an incredible thing for me. It's madness.

How did the piece come about?

The contact initially came about through the Berlin Football Association, who told me about the idea for a final day warm-up music and asked if I knew anyone who could do this project. I was totally enthusiastic straight away and said that I would love to do it myself. At the beginning of the work, you first have to categorize what kind of music suits the occasion. My advantage here is that I know the situation of the run-in from my own experience. I know what mood should be created. I quickly had a piece of music in my head and then put it together in my small studio. You try out a lot on the keyboard: Which instruments are best suited? What goes well together or with each other? You spend a lot of time working on the final result.

The result will be heard on May 24. What makes the piece special from your point of view?

Above all, the piece expresses anticipation - anticipation of the game, anticipation of the final. When the teams run out, the dynamics and musical tension also increase. At the end, there is a highlight that hopefully sweeps everyone away. Of course, most people listen to the piece subconsciously on the day of the final, because people don't come to the stadium primarily for the music. The piece is simply intended to arouse anticipation - perhaps even subconsciously.

One final question: What is your personal connection to the amateur final day?

I'm still very involved in amateur soccer and also work with young referees at the Berlin Football Association. In 2013, I refereed the Berlin state cup final of the 1st men's team myself, BFC Dynamo against SV Lichtenberg 47, so I've come full circle (editor's note: BFC Dynamo are also in this year's Berlin state cup final, their opponents are BSV Eintracht Mahlsdorf). I've always followed the final day with interest and I'm looking forward to being in the stadium for this year's anniversary in Berlin.

Saturday, May 24, marks the start of the final day of the amateurs the summer of finals in BerlinEintracht Mahlsdorf and BFC Dynamo will face each other in the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for men. The match is already sold out to the last seat. With 8,400 tickets sold, both teams can look forward to a clash in front of a record crowd at the Mommsenstadion (to the fan information).

Cup fever at the Mommsenstadion

Despite the different class affiliations of the finalists, an exciting clash at eye level can be expected. As a regional league team, BFC Dynamo are the favorites going into the match, but Oberliga side Eintracht Mahlsdorf are currently enjoying the most successful season in their club's history.

It has been almost a decade since the two teams last met in a competitive match. Mahlsdorf, still in the Verbandsliga at the time, were narrowly beaten by BFC in the first round of the regional cup, losing 2-1 after extra time. Meanwhile, the gap between the two clubs has shrunk: Mahlsdorf currently lead the Oberliga and could secure promotion to the Regionalliga with a win on the final matchday and thus also face BFC in the league next season. Head coach Karsten Heine is relaxed about this double burden of the final spurt in the Oberliga and the cup:

"For me, to emphasize this again, the advantage outweighs the disadvantage: we have to give over 100 percent in every game. Of course, that also requires a certain amount of control over what we do with the team. Both competitions are very appealing and it would be nice if we could win both. We will give it our all."

Two worthy finalists

Both teams thoroughly deserved their place in the final. Mahlsdorf beat BFC Preussen in the semi-final in a real cup thriller after extra time. BFC Dynamo celebrated their first appearance in the final since 2021, beating VSG Altglienicke 3:2 after extra time in a semi-final that was close for long stretches. Matchwinner Rufat Dadashov, who secured their place in the final with a penalty in the 113th minute, emphasized that the team is now preparing intensively for the final: "If you're in the final, you want to win it!"

How the Mahlsdorf team will fare against them will be revealed on Saturday at 12:30 pm. The winner of the match will not only be able to lift the national cup, but also the coveted ticket for the first round of the 2025/26 DFB Cup.For Mahlsdorf, it would be the biggest sporting event in the club's history to date. BFC knows the big stage of the DFB Cup only too well. In the recent past, the club has faced VfB Stuttgart, 1. FC Köln and FC Schalke 04, among others.

Watch the final live

Even though the Mommsenstadion is already sold out, the final can be watched live digitally. The match will be streamed live on Sportschau.de and in the ARD media library. There will also be a conference on ARD with all of the national cup finals. Lars Becker will commentate on the Berlin final in the live stream, while Christian Dexne will report from the Mommsenstadion in the TV conference.

Dirk Brennecke, head of the Amateur Finals Day steering group and managing director of the Football Association of the Middle Rhine, and Ingolf Geske, one of the CvDs (Chief of Duty) of ARD-Sportschau, are among the initiators of the nationwide Amateur Finals Day, which will take place for the tenth time on May 24. They look back on a decade full of exciting developments and stories and attest to the event's promising future.

Mr. Geske, Mr. Brennecke, the Amateurs' Final Day is celebrating its anniversary. For the tenth time, the state cup finals can be seen on May 24 in a large live conference on ARD. Does the biggest amateur football event fill you as its organizers with pride?

Geske: To be honest, I was surprised the other day when I realized the time frame. I think you can be a little proud that we at ARD have been covering it for so long. We will celebrate the anniversary.

Brennecke: Above all, I feel joy when I look back on the development of the event - from the beginning, when we had to persuade 21 national associations to take part, through difficult times during the pandemic, to its outstanding status today. It is thanks to many dedicated people, for example in the steering group for the amateur final day, in the national associations and in ARD, that we have achieved this.

Who came up with the idea and what challenges had to be overcome before the first edition?

Brennecke: It all started with the ambition of Steffen Simon, then head of sports at WDR, to do something for amateur soccer. He told me that if I succeeded in bringing together the finals of the three state associations in NRW, they would be broadcast on WDR. That was the starting point. We had to adjust the match schedules and overcome many other challenges, but it worked in 2015.

But it didn't stop there.

Brennecke: No, there was the same interplay between the task and the offer for all 21 national cup finals. Steffen Simon was initially positively shocked when we got that under control very quickly. However, he kept his word and the broadcast went to the "First". For many, this development was unimaginable. After all, 21 finals had to be bundled together and the cup competitions throughout Germany had to end on the same day - regardless of the different start of the summer vacations and other formalities.

Geske: At that point, we had to develop a concept and implement it with all the state broadcasters. The two decisive numbers were nine and 21, the former representing the number of broadcasters involved and the latter the number of DFB regional associations. And together they add up to a very high level of coordination that we all had to deal with at the time. Steffen Simon ultimately convinced all the sports directors of the idea. I then became the editor who has accompanied everything since then as "Head of", but the driving forces were Steffen Simon and Dirk Brennecke. They fought the idea through.

Brennecke: We realized right away that we were passionate about the topic and wanted to make it a success. That undoubtedly applies to you too, Ingolf. It was only afterwards that I really started to learn. In the regional associations, we got to know and pay attention to the issues of television producers. In this way, the amateur final day has become a further development program for the regional soccer associations. Today we know how to master major events and use them for development. That is a great gain.

How big is the effort for "Das Erste"?

Geske: The effort is immense. With 21 finals at times, we had to equip 21 venues with OB vans and install three to five cameras each, and even more for the top matches. That means we need around 120 cameramen alone. Then there are commentators, field reporters and editors in every stadium. You reach your limits. On the other hand, it also shows the strength of the federal ARD concept that it can simply be realized at the highest level every year. That only works with a functioning team

Brennecke: If interviewees don't appreciate this effort, I always suggest writing down 21 names of ARD commentators. Most people have to give up at some point. That illustrates the scale of the event.

How has the response to livestreams and TV broadcasts developed?

Geske: The development of the TV ratings is an additional argument for continuing the event. It used to be six to seven percent market share, mind you, with seven and a half to eight hours of broadcasting time. Most recently, we were at more than ten percent over the entire time and even up to 15 percent at the maximum during prime time. That is enormous and fills the idea with life of making a difference for amateur soccer and thus offering volunteers and the grassroots a special platform once a year.

Doesn't broadcasting all the matches take away from the clubs because fans would rather sit on the sofa than go to the stadium?

Brennecke: The opposite is the case. With the final day, we have given the cup competitions in the regional associations a much higher profile and raised their status. The stadiums are well attended, more and more often even sold out. We have received very positive feedback from clubs and players. We have created an image transfer through the intensive media coverage. And that also pays off economically in the end. The best proof of this is the acquisition of Volkswagen and the Bundeswehr as active partners throughout Germany.

On the final day, you deliberately leave the level of highly professional soccer, broadcast from comparatively small stadiums and work together with local organizers. Does that make the broadcast an adventure?

Geske: Sometimes a talent for improvisation is required. Presenter Gerd Gottlob once climbed a construction tower in Hamburg's Hoheluft stadium to commentate. Some stadiums are simply not suitable from a TV point of view because the sunlight interferes or there are no suitable places to set up cameras. We try to communicate this in advance. In Saarland, a final once took place in a very small stadium. Everything was cramped. Spectators tripped over cables several times and a main power cable was pulled. Only three of the 5:1 goals could be seen live, the others had to be shown later. Fortunately, we happened to have recorded the goals with cameras that were not affected by the power cut. We now also have concepts in the drawer for some of the stadiums that repeatedly host finals. However, there are always organizational or technical challenges, and the editorial work always starts from scratch anyway. But that's also the attraction. Tom Bartels once said that preparing for the amateur final was more difficult than preparing for a World Cup final, but at least as much fun.

Wouldn't it be easier to set a suitable, fixed final venue everywhere?

Brennecke: Some regional associations have done that, including us in the Middle Rhine region. That offers organizational advantages. However, this is not ideal for associations with a much larger area, such as the Bavarian Football Association. After all, the finals should attract an audience and therefore must not take place too far away from the home of the participating clubs. For me, two things are crucial: we have to prepare the stadiums in such a way that they exude a real finals atmosphere. Fans, players and officials must feel at the first moment that a special moment has arrived. The other aspect is to offer good conditions for television and sponsors. In my opinion, both are successful, also because nationwide partners are involved in the final day.

The images from previous matches convey this final atmosphere superbly. To what extent has there been a development over the past nine years?

Geske: There was a sense of euphoria among the participating clubs right from the start. But one thing has changed noticeably: Seven sixth division clubs are taking part this year. That's a record! This shows the commitment with which even lower league clubs are now approaching this competition. They want a strong presence in the public eye, so nothing is given up in the course of the cup competition, but rather worked towards the highlight of the year. The amateur final day has long since become a holiday for everyone. And a springboard into the limelight with this year's preliminary highlight: state cup winners Bielefeld, whose journey began on the 2024 Amateurs' Final Day with victory against Verl, will be in the "big" DFB Cup final after the end of this year's Amateurs' Final Day!

What have been your personal highlights in the nine years so far?

Brennecke: I experience goosebump moments every year: namely, whenever I get to watch the TV trailer for the event in advance and look at the ratings the day after the games. But the highlights also include the many positive reactions and the realization that even Bastian Schweinsteiger and Esther Sedlaczek would wait a few minutes for our event.

What's that all about?

Geske: In order to be able to show the games of the final third conference in full, we were allowed a possible time buffer last year. This would have affected the two of them as the commentary duo for the evening DFB Cup final in Berlin.

Brennecke: And it is precisely this planning that shows the appreciation of the amateur final day. That was an accolade.

And what were your highlights, Mr. Geske?

Geske: I don't look at the individual event, I really enjoy the meta-level view. When I see how all ARD broadcasters and the regional soccer associations pull together and all colleagues are passionately involved, it makes the day special for me.

Is a comparable event conceivable in women's soccer or other sports?

Geske: It's already a reality. The amateur finals day has become the blueprint for "The Finals", i.e. the joint German championships of many sports broadcast on ARD and ZDF every two years.

Brennecke: We are currently considering synchronizing the semi-finals, not to show all 42 matches live, but to implement comprehensive online coverage. Technically, a final day for the women's or A-juniors would also be conceivable. However, you should always check whether a competition has already reached this stage and not go overboard.

Many soccer fans see the interplay between the regional cup finals and the DFB Cup final on the same evening as a perfect symbiosis. Will the match in Berlin between VfB Stuttgart and Arminia Bielefeld, which will be broadcast by ZDF, be a relaxed end to a busy evening for you?

Brennecke: The final in Berlin is undoubtedly the moment for both the broadcasting teams of the state broadcasters and the employees in the state associations when the efforts of their own state cup final fall away and the final of the professionals in Berlin crowns the nationwide holiday of soccer.

On the occasion of the Media Day for the COSY-WASCH Men's 1st National Cup on May 24, 2025, the coaches of both finalists had their say and gave an outlook on the upcoming final day. In the following interview, Mahlsdorf coach Karsten Heine provides an insight into the decisive phase.

Good afternoon, Mr. Heine. Congratulations on reaching the cup final! How excited are you and the team?

Thank you very much for now! As the saying goes, anticipation is the greatest joy and we are really looking forward to this day. What I find very helpful is that, as things stand today, we are still doing very well in the league and are in contention to win the Oberliga. That makes for exciting days. But of course the cup final is an absolute highlight - for the team, the club and for all of us.

The semi-final against Preußen was a real cup fight - without that win, you wouldn't be in the final. What memories do you have of the match?

It was certainly a thrilling cup match, even for the neutral observer. We fell behind very early on, but were able to put that behind us. Especially in extra time, I think we were able to clearly underline that we deserved to win. All in all, a semi-final is always something very special because of the tension. When you leave the pitch as the winner, it's of course something to remember.

You've already won the cup in 1992 and 2004 with Hertha II and in 2020 with Altglienicke. What do you possibly do differently in a final than in a league match? Do you have a secret recipe for cup success?

There's no real secret recipe. There have also been times and finals when we haven't won. So it is by no means the case that there is a particular secret. Basically, the preparation for a final is similar to any other game. But of course a final is a special situation: a final where the trophy is at stake - no matter which one - is always exciting, it's always exciting. It's something else because there's a decision on the final day. And that's exactly what makes the cup so appealing: There's always a winner at the end. I personally find that very exciting and it's also a lot of fun.

As part of the Media Day, the BFV conducted interviews with both final coaches at the Wannsee Sports School. Karsten Heine was first in line. Photo: Sandra Ritschel

As you've already mentioned, the constellation in the league is just as exciting as in the cup. Is it an advantage or disadvantage to be so strongly challenged in both competitions?

You can only judge that in hindsight. Personally, however, I think our current situation is good, as we are under pressure in every game. It's more difficult when there's nothing at stake in the league - as is currently the case at BFC, where the difficulty lies in keeping the tension high. But of course it always depends on the perspective. For me, to emphasize this again, the advantage outweighs the disadvantage: We have to give more than 100 percent in every game. Of course, that also requires a certain amount of control over what we do with the team. Both competitions are very appealing and it would be nice if we could win both of them. We will give it our all.

How do you rate your opponents BFC Dynamo?

First of all, they're a strong regional league team, you could certainly say that. However, I have the impression, without being able to assess it from the inside, that they had perhaps hoped for a bit more over the course of the season. That's why this cup final is not only a real highlight for them, but also a chance to bring a mixed season to a successful conclusion. It's exciting for us to play against such a team - not least because BFC has a huge fan potential. That makes for a great atmosphere in the stadium and makes a soccer match like this particularly appealing. That's why we're really looking forward to the challenge and will give it our all.

Speaking of atmosphere: What kind of atmosphere do you expect at the Mommsenstadion?

As far as the support for the teams is concerned, I think it's relatively easy to predict. BFC will have a big advantage with their numerous fans in the background. But there will also be quite a lot of spectators from our side, measured by our standards. And I think, as I've already said, that's part and parcel of a final: a stadium as full as possible, enthusiasm in the stands. I hope that we can do our bit to make it an exciting, interesting cup match. So that the spectators can say at the end, regardless of the outcome, that they saw a great game.

The "Amateur Final Day" will be televised nationwide. How special is it for you and your team to be able to present yourselves on this stage? What does it mean to you?

I think it's generally very good that the so-called little ones can be seen at the forefront of television on such a day, even if of course not every game is broadcast in full. For us as Eintracht Mahlsdorf, it's a great thing that our club is represented nationwide. It's also great that people know that soccer is being played here in Mahlsdorf, on the outskirts of Berlin. It's a very pleasant thing for everyone involved.

Is there an opponent you would particularly like to face if you were to enter the DFB Cup - either for sporting or emotional reasons?

In the past, the teams I've won the national cup with have always been lucky enough to be drawn against a very attractive opponent in the first round(editor's note: 1992: SGK Heidelberg, 2004: FC Schalke 04, 2020: 1. FC Köln). And that's exactly what makes it so attractive for a smaller club like us. In the end, I think it doesn't really matter which team you're drawn against. But that's just dreaming, of course. We're taking everything step by step.

Germany can look forward to a special sporting anniversary on 24 May 2025: The men's cup final matches of the state associations of the German Football Association (DFB) can once again be seen in a live conference lasting more than seven hours on "Das Erste" as part of the tenth edition of the amateur final day.

Coverage of Germany's biggest amateur football event starts on Saturday, May 24 at 12:00 noon. The broadcast of the 20 state cup finals, in which the finalists will not only win the title but also the coveted starting places for the first main round of the 2025/2026 DFB Cup, will be divided into three sub-conferences with four different kick-off times. The first six matches will kick off at 12:30 pm. The second broadcast block begins at 2:30 p.m. with seven more matches. The remaining seven national cup finals in the third live conference will be split between kick-off times at 4:30 p.m. (three matches) and 5:30 p.m. (four matches, all without extra time). The broadcast of the amateur final day will end at 20:00. Due to Arminia Bielefeld's participation in the DFB Cup final, the final match of the Westphalia Football and Athletics Association (FLVW) will be broadcast at a later time and will not be part of the ARD conference.

Peter Frymuth, President of the Lower Rhine Football Association and DFB Vice President for Match Operations and Football Development, said: "The broadcast of the regional cup finals in the ARD live conference offers amateur soccer a unique media platform. The fact that the final day is now celebrating its tenth anniversary makes us all proud. Amateur soccer is getting the attention it deserves. The anniversary edition of Finaltag will once again provide excitement and memorable moments."

ARD Sports Coordinator Axel Balkausky emphasizes: "The Amateur Finals Day is a successful format that provides highlights for every soccer fan. We are delighted to be able to broadcast it for the tenth year in a row. The anniversary edition of the amateur final day will once again transport the impressive atmosphere from the final stadiums to our audience of millions on ARD and the ARD media library."

Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association, said: "The spectators in front of their TV sets and the fans in the Mommsenstadion, where the COSY-WASCH State Cup final is returning after a one-year absence, can look forward to a great anniversary final day. With Oberliga team Eintracht Mahlsdorf and regional league team and GDR record champions BFC Dynamo, two teams will meet in a local duel that is sure to provide a thrilling match. Berlin is looking forward to the anniversary of the amateur final day, which offers the finalists the opportunity to present themselves in front of a large audience year after year. On behalf of the BFV, I wish both teams every success.

An overview of the fixtures for the 2025 Amateur Finals Day on May 24:

12:30 pm:

• Thuringian Football Association: FC An der Fahner Höhe (Thüringenliga) - ZFC Meuselwitz (Regionalliga Nordost)
• Hamburg Football Association: FC Eintracht Norderstedt (Regionalliga Nord) - USC Paloma (Oberliga Hamburg)
• Lower Saxony Football Association: VfL Osnabrück (3rd division) - TuS BW Lohne (northern regional league)
• Berlin Football Association: BSV Eintracht Mahlsdorf (NOFV-Oberliga Nord) - BFC Dynamo (Regionalliga Nordost)
• Southwest German Football Association: FK Pirmasens (Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar) - TSV Schott Mainz (Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar)
• Rhineland Football Association: FC Rot-Weiß Koblenz (Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar) - FV Engers 07 (Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar)

14:30:

• Württemberg Football Association: TSG Balingen (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg) - SG Sonnenhof Großaspach (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg)
• Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Football Association: SV Pastow (Verbandsliga) - FC Hansa Rostock (3rd division)
• South Baden Football Association: Bahlinger SC (Regionalliga Südwest) - FC Auggen (Verbandsliga Südbaden)
• Schleswig-Holstein Football Association: VfB Lübeck (Regionalliga Nord) - Kaltenkirchener TS (Landesliga Holstein)
• Baden Football Association: GU-T SV Pforzheim (bfv-Verbandsliga) - SV Sandhausen (3rd league)
• Saxony-Anhalt Football Association: 1. FC Lok Stendal (Verbandsliga) - Hallescher FC (Regionalliga Nordost)
• Brandenburg Football Association: RSV Eintracht 1949 (NOFV-Oberliga Süd) - VfB Krieschow (NOFV-Oberliga Süd)

16:30:

• Soccer Association Middle Rhine: Alemannia Aachen (3rd league) - Viktoria Köln (3rd league)
• Lower Rhine Football Association: MSV Duisburg (Regionalliga West) - Rot-Weiss Essen (3rd division)
• Saxon Football Association: 1. FC Lok Leipzig (Regionalliga Nordost) - FC Erzgebirge Aue (3. Liga)

17:30:

• Bremen Football Association: SV Hemelingen (Bremen-Liga) - Bremer SV (Regionalliga Nord)
• Hessian Football Association: SV Wehen Wiesbaden (3rd division) - Hessen Kassel (Regionalliga Südwest)
• Bavarian Football Association: FV Illertissen (Regionalliga Bayern) - SpVgg Unterhaching (3rd division)
• Saarland Football Association: FC Palatia Limbach (Saarland-Liga) - FC 08 Homburg (Regionalliga Südwest)/1. FC Saarbrücken (3. Liga) | semi-finals pending

In the event that one of the listed finalists takes part in the relegation matches between Bundesliga 2 and Bundesliga 3, there may be changes to the fixtures.

The Amateurs' Final Day, the biggest event in German amateur soccer, has gained another partner for 2025: the German Armed Forces. This collaboration will be visible at the tenth edition of the event on May 24, 2025.

Since 2016, the amateur final day has been held annually on the day of the DFB Cup final and is broadcast live on TV and streamed by ARD and its state broadcasters in several conference blocks. All men's state cup finals in the 21 state associations of the German Football Association (DFB) are played within this framework. The winning teams qualify for the first main round of the DFB Cup the following season.

As a nationwide event with live coverage from 21 different venues, the amateur final day can compete with major international sporting events in terms of production volume. Accordingly, the commitment of partners such as the German Armed Forces is important in order to cope with the increasing organizational effort and to continuously develop the format. The Amateurs' Final Day offers all partners the opportunity to present themselves as attractive employers.

Dirk Brennecke, Managing Director of the Central Rhine Football Association, says on behalf of the Amateur Finals Day steering group, which has been organizing the joint final day of the state cups since 2015: "The partnership with the Bundeswehr this year is an important step towards strengthening the format of the 21 cup finals and taking a further development step ten years after its introduction. Whether it's popular sport like soccer or top-class sport like that promoted by the Bundeswehr: Sport brings people together and creates community. Together with the Bundeswehr, we want to make values such as team spirit, motivation and resilience more visible and emphasize their importance for the cohesion of society. We would like to thank the Bundeswehr for its commitment and look forward to working together on the Amateurs 2025 final day."

Further information on the cooperation can be found in the FAQ can be found here.

On Easter Monday, the finalists of the COSY-WASCH national cup were determined in two exciting semi-finals. Both matches were decided in regulation time. In the end, Eintracht Mahlsdorf and BFC Dynamo prevailed and will meet in the amateur final on May 24 at the Mommsenstadion.

Last-minute extra time at Rosenhag

In the first semi-final of the day, Oberliga side BSV Eintracht Mahlsdorf faced league rivals BFC Preussen. Both teams had already faced each other in the cup last year. Back then, Mahlsdorf came out on top 3:0 - but it was not to be as clear-cut this year.

The visitors from Lankwitz took the lead early on (2). Spurred on by the quick goal, the Prussians continued to create top-class chances. Only Mahlsdorf goalkeeper Büchel and aluminum luck on the part of the hosts prevented further goals. Eintracht withstood the pressure phase and slowly got into the game better. Mahlsdorf stepped up the pace at the start of the second half. The deserved reward: In the 51st minute, Nils Stettin scored the temporary equalizer with a header. Three minutes later, Nikolas Frank restored the lead for the visitors with a well-placed finish (54').

As the game progressed, a dynamic match developed with opportunities on both sides. However, the hosts now had more chances and were awarded a penalty in the final minute. This was safely converted by Björn Jopek, meaning that the majority of the 800 spectators could look forward to extra time (90.+1). Here, Mahlsdorf seamlessly continued the strong final phase of the regular season and took the lead for the first time with a fine header from Peter Köster. Justin Reichstein made the final score 4:2.

The highlights of the match can be viewed here in the annotated video post-match report on YouTube.

Thrilling cup thriller despite being short-handed early on

The second semi-final of the day, which attracted over 2,300 spectators to the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen, was no less exciting. Dynamo put their stamp on the game early on. David Grözinger gave BFC the lead from a free-kick (22'), which the hosts then cleverly managed. The visitors, visibly inhibited, conceded a yellow card to Robert Deziel Jr. shortly before the half-time whistle (44').

Contrary to expectations, the Altglienickers came out of the half-time break stronger and made their first statement with a thunderous long-range shot from Arnem Kujovic (49'). They finally equalized in the 67th minute through Grace Bokake, who came on as a second-half substitute. BFC now got back on track. McMoordy Hüther gave Dynamo their second and deserved lead (85'). But VSG did not give up: The courageous visitors equalized again while short-handed (90+2), meaning that this semi-final thriller also went into extra time. It was not until the 113th minute that Rufat Dadashov finally redeemed the hosts by converting a penalty. It was BFC's first appearance in the final since 2021.

Due to short-term staff absences, it was not possible to produce a video post-match report. We apologize for this.

The final match for the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st men will return to Charlottenburg's Mommsenstadion for the 2024/2025 season.

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st Men will take place as part of the nationwide "Amateur Finals Day". After the final was held at the Hans-Zoschke-Stadion in Lichtenberg last season, the final of the current 2024/2025 season will be held at the Mommsenstadion in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin. The decision was made by the executive committee of the Berlin Football Association.

After the Mommsenstadion had established itself as the venue for the final of the Berlin men's national cup competition from 2021, the renovation of the venue in the run-up to UEFA EURO 2024 made it necessary to relocate to the Hans-Zoschke-Stadion for the previous final. After weighing up all organizational and infrastructural factors, the BFV Executive Committee, in close consultation with the Events department, made the decision to return to the Mommsenstadion for the final in 2025. Alternative venues were ruled out at an early stage due to other factors.

The decision was announced by Joachim Gaertner, Member of the Match Operations Committee, during the public draw for the round of 16 on October 17, 2024. The chairman of the Match Committee commented on the decision: "The Mommsenstadion has already established itself as a final venue in the years 2021 to 2023 and has been further upgraded by the refurbishment in the run-up to EURO 2024. It meets the requirements for organization and safety better than any other stadium under consideration and will therefore once again provide a worthy and reliable setting for the final of the COSY-WASCH Landespokal Berlin next summer."

The state cup finals of the DFB's state associations attract large audiences in the stadiums and to the live broadcast on ARD.

A TV conference with more than seven hours of live soccer and exciting cup fights from 21 stadiums: the amateur final day is unique in its form and scope and thrills soccer fans throughout Germany year after year. The ninth edition of the format, in which all men's cup finals of the 21 state associations of the German Football Association were played on 25 May 2024, was watched by more than three million viewers on "Das Erste".

The ARD broadcast was divided into three sub-conferences with four different kick-off times. The first eight state cup finals, which kicked off at 11:45 a.m., achieved a market share of 9.2 percent with 600,000 viewers. The second broadcast block from 13:45 with a further six finals achieved a market share of 11.0% (870,000 viewers). The third sub-conference with the last two kick-off times attracted a viewer share of 11.1% (1 million viewers) for the four matches from 3:45 p.m. and even a share of 14.2% (1.5 million viewers) from 4:45 p.m. onwards.

More than 150,000 fans in the 21 final stadiums provided an atmospheric backdrop for the broadcast. The finals in the Brandenburg (FC Energie Cottbus - SV Babelsberg 03, 13,305 spectators) and Lower Rhine (Rot-Weiß Oberhausen - Rot-Weiss Essen, 17,897 spectators) regional cups were played in front of significantly more than 10,000 fans. In Saxony (SG Dynamo Dresden - FC Erzgebirge Aue, 27,159 spectators) and Westphalia (DSC Arminia Bielefeld - SC Verl, 24,062 spectators), the 20,000 stadium attendance mark was even broken in each case.

"Amateur soccer offers huge potential for identification"

Dirk Brennecke, coordinator of the Amateurs' Final Day and Managing Director of the Central Rhine Football Association, says: "German amateur soccer offers huge potential for identification and writes countless stories that deserve to be told to a wide audience. We were able to offer some of these stories this big stage with the 2024 Amateur Final Day. We are very pleased about the once again very successful implementation of the TV broadcast by the ARD regional broadcasters and the great viewer interest in the stadiums."

ARD Sports Coordinator Axel Balkausky explains: "The ninth edition of the amateur final day once again attracted and inspired a wide audience. The subsequent broadcast of the men's DFB Cup final from Berlin rounded off the long live sports day on 'Das Erste'. That was advertising for German soccer."

Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association, said: "I would like to thank everyone involved in the organization of the final day and rbb as the responsible state broadcaster for the broadcast from the Hans Zoschke Stadium. Our finalists, Viktoria Berlin and TuS Makkabi, represented Berlin soccer excellently on the national stage. I wish Viktoria every success in their first round match in the DFB Cup against FC Augsburg and a soccer festival similar to the one on May 25."

The tenth edition of the amateur final day will take place on May 24, 2025, on the day of the 82nd DFB Cup final.

Viktoria Berlin won the title for the tenth time with a 3:0 victory over Tus Makkabi in the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup.

It's a round thing for FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin: With previous clubs taken into account, the club was able to secure the trophy of the Berlin State Cup competition for men for the tenth time. In the final match for the COSY-WASCH Berlin State Cup on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at the Hans-Zoschke Stadium in Lichtenberg, the team defeated final opponents TuS Makkabi Berlin 3:0.

More chances for eventual winners

Both teams offered the 2,739 spectators an intense and balanced opening phase. There was initially no discernible difference in class and Oberliga side Makkabi played confidently going forward. However, the first good chances belonged to Viktoria. In the eleventh minute, Julien Damelang took off just before the halfway line, stormed past friend and foe towards goal and laid off to his colleague Oleg Scacun just before the edge of the penalty area, whose shot missed the right side of the box. After some initial difficulties, the regional league team increasingly took control of the game and created further opportunities. However, shots from Aiden Bardian Liu (19') and Laurenz Dehl (23'), a close-range header from Lucas Falcao (36') and a long-range shot from Meisour Mohamed (40') failed to find their way into the box.

The most promising chance of the first half came shortly before the break: A miscommunication in the Maccabi defense allowed the ball to reach Scacun, whose shot at the half-empty goal was saved by Maccabi keeper Jack Krause, as was the subsequent follow-up shot (44'). Despite many good chances, the score remained 0-0 at the break.

Viktoria shoot their way to the title

The second half had barely got underway when Viktoria were rewarded for their increased chances in the first half. An attack down the right was blocked by the Makkabi defense, but the ball bounced right to the feet of Berk Inaler, who confidently slotted the ball past the keeper from the edge of the box to make it 1-0 (48'). Eleven minutes later, Viktoria had a great chance to extend their lead: After a defensive miscommunication on the Makkabi side, Lucas Falcao and Shean Mensah were free through, Falcao laid off for his team-mate, but TuS goalkeeper Krause was again outstandingly on hand to save the one hundred percent chance to score (59').

Makkabi played a much more balanced second half, which was soon reflected in the first goalscoring opportunities. In the 68th minute, the ball came into the Viktoria penalty area from the left-hand side. There, the ball found Kanto Voahariniaina in the turmoil, who chased the leather over the crossbar from twelve meters. This was the start of a veritable flurry of goalscoring opportunities in the match. With 75 minutes played, Victoria's Mensah hit the far post from an acute angle. Three minutes later, Viki keeper Florian Horenburg had to stretch himself to save a Makkabi shot from distance. Shortly afterwards, the other side struck again: Viktoria's Mensah won the ball on the left wing, played the ball into the six-yard box to Lucas Falcao, who scored into the far corner to make it 2:0 (80'). The valiantly fighting Makkabi were almost beaten and could not prevent Viktoria from increasing the score to 3:0. In the 87th minute, left-winger Mensah got the ball and made a determined run into the penalty area, where his clever finish into the near corner hit the inside of the post and bounced off to Julien Damelang, who scored into the empty net to make it 3-0.

After the final whistle by referee Tom Channir, there was no end to the jubilation among the "Sky Blues". It was the tenth time the club had lifted the trophy. The Berlin Football Association congratulates FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin on winning the COSY-WASCH Berlin State Cup and thus advancing to the first main round of the DFB Cup.

On Saturday, May 25, the eventful Berlin Cup summer will come to a worthy conclusion: Viktoria Berlin and TuS Makkabi will battle for the coveted trophy in the COSY-WASCH State Cup final for the 1st men. The match will be played at the Hans-Zoschke-Stadion (Normannenstraße 28, 10367 Berlin). The home ground of Lichtenberg 47 will open its doors on the final day at 10:15 am. We recommend arriving early, preferably by public transport due to the limited parking spaces around the stadium. Tickets are only available via the online ticket store, but can also be booked on the day of the match itself. Get your tickets now!

Replay of last year's semi-final

Viktoria Berlin and Tus Makkabi are not only the last two title winners to face each other, both teams also met in last year's semi-final. The outcome was better for coach Sandhowe and Makkabi, who catapulted the Semih Keskin-coached "Himmelblauen" out of the competition with a 3:2 win to reach the final and win the title. The Sandhowe team are therefore keen to defend their title and are banking on the experience factor. Viktoria will be looking to take revenge for last season's elimination and celebrate winning the cup with their young, talented squad to crown their successful season. Viktoria finished the series in third place in the Regionalliga and qualified for the cup semi-final against Lichtenberg 47 by winning in extra time, while Makkabi finished seventh in the NOVF-Oberliga Nord and defeated league rivals Sparta Lichtenberg 3:1 in the semi-final.

Who gets to play in the DFB Cup?

Tus Makkabi was the first Jewish club to win a national cup last year and could now defend this title. Wolfgang Sandhowe hinted at what winning the cup again would mean for the club in an interview: "When the final whistle blew last year, we all ran onto the pitch and hugged each other. You can't imagine the effect that had. Television from Israel, Israeli television from America, suddenly you're on everyone's lips. It was a great experience and we wanted to reach the final again right from the start of the season."

The winner of the final will go through to the first main round of the 2024/25 DFB Cup. Semih Keskin has already been able to step onto the big stage of the DFB Cup with his Viktoria and made no secret of the additional incentive and importance for the club in the interview: "That was a special experience that you won't forget and would like to experience again. It would be great publicity for the club if we could give players from our own youth team the opportunity to experience such a highlight."

Excerpts from the Berlin state cup final will be shown as part of the amateur final day in a seven-hour live TV conference on "Das Erste" (more information).

The entire match can also be watched live on rbb24.

TEAM BERLIN APP users can now purchase discounted online tickets for the men's COSY-WASCH State Cup final.

After ticket sales for all other Berlin state cup finals have already started, advance sales for the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st Men also started on Friday, May 3, 2024. The teams from Viktoria Berlin and TuS Makkabi Berlin will face each other there on Saturday, May 25, 2024, as part of the amateur final day. Users of the TEAM BERLIN APP can purchase tickets for the men's final at a discount via the ticket store.

Tickets exclusively online

As with all other Berlin Cup finals, the following also applies to the COSY-WASCH Men's Cup Final: Only mobile tickets or digital Print@Home tickets are available. These can also be booked on the day of the match itself via QR codes displayed at the stadium using a smartphone.

The ticket price for seats is 25 euros. Standing tickets are available for 15 euros and concessions for 10 euros. Discounts are available for the severely disabled, schoolchildren, students, volunteers, those doing military or civilian service, trainees, the unemployed and pensioners, as well as soccer fans aged 21 and under. Free admission and discounts are only granted on presentation of appropriate proof. There is a contingent for neutral spectators in all price categories as well as contingents for home and away fans of the two finalists. Admission is free for children under the age of 12 as well as referees, coaches with a B+ license or higher and BFV, NOFV and DFB employees. Please contacttickets@spam.berlinerfv.deno later than one working day before the respective match (details: function, name, address, telephone number, e-mail address). Important: Bags larger than DIN A4 and baby carriages are not permitted in the stadium for the 1st men's cup final.

Download the TEAM BERLIN APP now and get a discount!

From May 6, users of the TEAM BERLIN APP can save money when buying tickets for the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for the 1st men. All they have to do is download the TEAM BERLIN APP and create a user profile. You can then access the member area via the "TEAM BERLIN" button on the app homepage. There you will receive access to the code via the "Ticket discount code" field, which can then be entered when ordering.

Questions about ticket sales can be sent totickets@spam.berlinerfv.decan be made.

Don't miss out on the 2024 final summer!TEAM BERLIN APPdownload, register for free and join the "Pokalfieber" chat.

The final of the COSY-WASCH men's national cup between Viktoria Berlin and TuS Makkabi will kick off at 11:45 a.m.

Soccer Germany can look forward to a festive day on 25 May 2024: All men's cup finals of the 21 state associations of the German Football Association (DFB) can once again be seen in a more than seven-hour live conference on "Das Erste" as part of the ninth edition of the amateur final day. The broadcast of the DFB Cup final will then round off ARD's long sports day in the evening.

"Das Erste" starts on Saturday, May 25 at 11:30 a.m. with coverage of the amateur finals. The broadcast of the 21 state cup finals, in which the finalists will not only be competing for the title but also for the coveted starting places for the first main round of the 2024/2025 DFB Cup, will be divided into three sub-conferences with four different kick-off times. The first eight matches will kick off at 11:45 am. The second broadcast block begins at 13:45 with six more matches. The remaining seven national cup finals in the third live conference will be split between kick-off times at 3:45 pm (four matches) and 4:45 pm (three matches, all without extra time). The broadcast of the amateur final day will end at 19:00, but the soccer coverage on "Das Erste" will continue. Immediately afterwards, all soccer fans can look forward to the DFB Cup final between 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Bayer 04 Leverkusen live from the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

Peter Frymuth, DFB Vice President Match Operations and Football Development, says: "The broadcast of all state cup finals in the ARD live conference offers amateur soccer a unique media platform. The ninth edition of the final day will once again write great stories. I am sure that both the thousands of fans in the stadiums and the millions of viewers in front of the screens will be thrilled once again."

ARD Sports Coordinator Axel Balkausky emphasizes: "The Amateur Finals Day has established itself as a day of celebration for German amateur soccer, and the live conference will once again transport the impressive atmosphere from the 21 final stadiums to the many viewers at home this year. The evening broadcast of the DFB Cup final rounds off a perfect overall package that offers highlights for every soccer fan."

Bernd Schultz, President of the Berlin Football Association, says: "Both the fans in Lichtenberg's Hans-Zoschke Stadium, where the COSY-WASCH national cup final will be played for the first time, and those watching at home can already look forward to May 25, 2024. With regional league team Viktoria Berlin and Oberliga team and last year's finalist TuS Makkabi, two Berlin teams are facing each other that promise an exciting duel at a high sporting level. I am delighted that the clubs will have the opportunity to present themselves on the biggest possible stage thanks to the TV and live stream and wish them both every success."

An overview of the fixtures for the 2024 amateur finals on May 25:

11:45 a.m:

• Baden Football Association: 1.FC Mühlhausen (Verbandsliga Baden) - SV Sandhausen (3rd league)

• Berlin Football Association: FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin (Regionalliga Nordost) - TuS Makkabi Berlin (NOFV-Oberliga Nord)

• Bremen Football Association: SV Hemelingen (Bremen-Liga) - Bremer SV (Regionalliga Nord)

• Saxony-Anhalt Football Association: SSC Weißenfels (Saxony-Anhalt Association League) / VfB Germania Halberstadt (NOFV-Oberliga Süd) - VfL Halle 96 (NOFV-Oberliga Süd) / Hallescher FC (3. Liga) | semi-finals pending

• Hamburg Football Association: USC Paloma Hamburg (Oberliga Hamburg) - Teutonia Ottensen (Regionalliga Nord)

• Saarland Football Association: FC 08 Homburg (Regionalliga Südwest) - 1. FC Saarbrücken (3. Liga) / FSV Jägersburg (Saarland-Liga) | semi-finals pending

• Southwest German Football Association: TSV Schott Mainz (Regionalliga Südwest) - SV Gonsenheim (Oberliga Rheinland-Pfalz/Saar)

• Thuringian Football Association: FC Carl Zeiss Jena (Regionalliga Nordost) - ZFC Meuselwitz (Regionalliga Nordost)

1:45 pm:

• Soccer Association Mittelrhein: Alemannia Aachen (Regionalliga West) - Bonner SC (Mittelrheinliga)

• Rhineland Football Association: TuS Koblenz (Regionalliga Südwest) - SG Schneifel (Rheinlandliga)

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern State Football Association: Greifswalder FC (Regionalliga Nordost) - TSG Neustrelitz (NOFV-Oberliga Nord)

• Lower Saxony Football Association: VfV 06 Hildesheim (Oberliga Niedersachsen) - Atlas Delmenhorst (Oberliga Niedersachsen)

• Schleswig-Holstein Football Association: SV Todesfelde (Oberliga Schleswig-Holstein) - 1.FC Phönix Lübeck (Regionalliga Nord)

• South Baden Football Association: FC 08 Villingen (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg) - SC Lahr (Verbandsliga Südbaden)

15:45:

• Brandenburg Football Association: FC Energie Cottbus (Regionalliga Nordost) - SV Babelsberg 03 (Regionalliga Nordost)

• Lower Rhine Football Association: Rot-Weiß Oberhausen (Regionalliga West) - Rot-Weiss Essen (3rd division)*.

• Saxon Football Association: SG Dynamo Dresden (3rd league) - FC Erzgebirge Aue (3rd league)*

• Württemberg Football Association: VfR Aalen (Regionalliga Südwest) - SG Sonnenhof Großaspach (Oberliga Baden-Württemberg)

16:45:

• Bavarian Football Association: FC Würzburger Kickers (Bavarian regional league) - FC Ingolstadt (3rd league)

• Westphalia Football and Athletics Association: DSC Arminia Bielefeld (3rd league) - SC Verl (3rd league)

• Hessian Football Association: Türk Gücü Friedberg (Hessenliga) - Kickers Offenbach (Regionalliga Südwest)

*In the event that one of the listed finalists takes part in the relegation matches between Bundesliga 2 and Bundesliga 3, there may be changes to the fixtures.

With the "DFB-Fanfahrt", the German Football Association offers a service for stadium visitors that makes it easy to find a ride to the venue. This service will also be available for some regional cup finals as part of the 2024 amateur final day. Click here for the portal:DFB-Fanfahrt

Further information on the 2024 Amateurs' Final Day can be found herewww.finaltag-der-amateure.de

In summery conditions of 28 degrees, the players of the four remaining teams in the Berlin state cup competition for men's 1st division lived up to Labor Day and delivered exciting, hard-fought cup battles to a total of over 2,000 fans.

Extra portion of soccer in Lichterfelde

When referee Philipp Gentsch blew the final whistle for the match between Viktoria Berlin and Lichtenberg 47 after just over 120 minutes of play, it was not immediately clear which team had made it to the final in what was expected to be a close game. Both sides slumped to the ground exhausted after this battle of attrition before the "sky blue" team gradually began to cheer. The hosts clearly had the visual advantage and the first penalty area scenes at the start of the game, with Lucas Falcao having the first chance to score in the eighth minute after an impressive combination play, before Lichtenberg had four top-class shots on goal within a very short space of time after around 18 minutes: However, a saved header from Paul Krüger and Maximilian Schmidt's follow-up shot did not find their way into the goal, just as a saved long-range shot from Kevin Owczarek and a close-range finish from Gabriel Vieira's subsequent corner shortly afterwards. The second half had one high-caliber chance for each side, but because the keepers of both sides were able to save further great chances, there were 30 minutes of added time. In extra time, the pendulum then swung in the direction of the regional league team and, after some buttery-smooth preparatory work, Laurenz Dehl headed the ball into the Lichtenberg goal after 104 minutes - the 1:0 winner for Viktoria Berlin.

The defending champions are back in the final

In the second match, Sparta Lichtenberg welcomed the defending champions TuS Makkabi to the Fischerstraße sports ground. Third and seventh in the NOFV-Oberliga Nord met in a rematch of last year's final. After a rather cautious opening phase, the teams became more courageous towards the end of the first half, but were unable to convert their efforts into goals. This was to change in the second half, with goalscorer Caner Özcin converting a Voahariniaina cross from the right in the 55th minute. Just six minutes later, Omid Saberdest replied for the home side, scoring the equalizer with a follow-up shot after a corner was not consistently cleared. Little shocked by the equalizer, Makkabi managed a double strike in the 70th and 73rd minutes: first the newly substituted Teo Matkovic was able to put the ball in the net after a header from Özcin, only a little later it was the striking Kalilu Conteh who completed a fantastic combination to make it 3:1. After a further setback in the form of a red card for Max Konrad, the final quarter of an hour became a Herculean task for the Spartans. They threw everything forward, but were no longer able to prevent the visitors from winning and thus reaching the final.

The final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st Men will be played on May 25, 2024 at the Hans Zoschke Stadium in Lichtenberg

On Saturday, May 25, 2024, the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st Men will take place at the Hans Zoschke Stadium in Berlin-Lichtenberg as part of the nationwide "Amateur Final Day". The decision for the venue was made after intensive consultation between the Berlin Football Association and the responsible committees after it became apparent that the Mommsenstadion, the traditional venue for the final in recent years, would not be available in the summer of 2024 due to training operations as part of UEFA EURO 2024.

"In a comparison of the available venues in Berlin, the Hans Zoschke Stadium offers the best solution, taking into account factors such as TV suitability, digital perimeter advertising, parking facilities and the infrastructural conditions for spectators. It has proven itself as a regional league venue in the recent past and will also provide a worthy setting for the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup," said Joachim Gaertner, Member of the Presidential Board for Match Operations, explaining the BFV's decision.

SV Lichtenberg 47, which plays its league home games at the Hans-Zoschke-Stadion, is still represented in the Berlin state cup competition and would play in its own arena if it reached the final. "We considered this scenario when making our selection, but it didn't play a major role in the decision-making process," explained Gaertner. "The possibility of a home club as a potential final participant would also have existed in other eligible stadiums. The neutrality of the final venue was therefore not a must-have criterion, especially since last year's final at the Mommsenstadion with TuS Makkabi Berlin, which is based there, went off without a hitch."

Final venue with tradition

The men's national cup final will therefore return to the east of the city for the first time since the 2020 final at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. The Hans-Zoschke-Stadion last hosted the East Berlin state cup final in 1968, when BFC Dynamo II beat FC Vorwärts Berlin II 6:1 in front of 600 spectators. In total, the East Berlin final was held there seven times.

There has been no change from previous years in the finals of the 2nd, Lower and 7s men's teams. The finals are almost traditionally played on Whit Monday, May 20, 2024 at the Monumentenstraße sports field in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.

In the final of the COSY-WASCH Berlin State Cup, Makkabi Berlin secured the trophy against Sparta Lichtenberg with a 3:1 win after extra time.

On June 3, 2023, Oberliga team TuS Makkabi Berlin and Berlin League champions SV Sparta Lichtenberg met in the final of the COSY-WASCH State Cup for 1st Men at the Mommsenstadion. In front of a euphoric crowd of 4,673 spectators, TuS prevailed 3:1 after extra time. The team not only lifted the trophy, but also qualified for the first round of the DFB Cup.

Sparta take the lead from eleven meters

After both teams had lined up for a minute's silence for the Berlin youth footballer Paul, who died during a youth tournament in Frankfurt, the final could begin - and the match had a lot to offer. After less than a minute of play, Makkabi player Kalilu Conteh got the ball in the penalty area, but put the ball well over the bar. Things got more dangerous less than two minutes later: Makkabi striker Guilherme Henrique Lopes de Oliveira broke into the sixteen on the half-right, but his shot was saved for a corner by alert Sparta keeper Tim Erdmann (3)

In the ninth minute of the match, Sparta also made their first offensive appearance of the game when the ball reached Mohamed Saloun Toure, who was hit in the face by his opponent during a running duel as he entered the penalty area, prompting referee Kai Kaltwaßer to point to the spot. After an almost three-minute break for treatment, Sparta's Daniel Hänsch stepped up to the task and drove the ball powerfully right-footed into the net to give his Lichtenberg side a 1:0 lead (13').

TuS then needed some time to regroup, but continued to create more chances as the first half progressed. In the 28th minute, de Oliveira broke into the Sparta penalty area after a strong pass, but his lob was cleared off the line. Eleven minutes later, it was the very eye-catching de Oliveira again, who received a soft cross from the left before the Maccabi striker headed just wide of the post (39'). In stoppage time of the first period, Lichtenberg also had another opportunity: Felix Polster overcame the offside trap on the far left and had plenty of space, but his pass into the middle lacked a few centimetres for Lukas Rehbein, who was lurking in the penalty area, to get his foot to the ball and put it on target.

Maccabi with more staying power in extra time

The second half, like the first, began with offensive pressure from TuS Makkabi, but this time with a successful outcome: In the 49th minute, Makkabi and Sparta played "ping-pong" in the Lichtenberg penalty area until the ball reached Tim Häußler, who shot the ball flat into the net from a central position around 17 meters out - a 1:1 equalizer for Makkabi.

The second half of the match was characterized by largely cautious offensive efforts from both teams, who looked for the gap at the front. It was not until the 89th minute that the next top chance was recorded, when Makkabi captain Doron Bruck plucked down a long ball and, from a very promising position in the penalty area, ultimately aimed well over the goal and missed the lucky punch.

An intense and thrilling final went into extra time, which began with a chance for the Spartans: Mohamed Toure made a strong run down the right and passed the ball into the middle, but substitute Gojko Karupovic failed to hit the ball properly and missed from a good position (92').

While the first period of extra time still belonged to SV Sparta, Makkabi increasingly took control after the break, but Caner Özcin first failed to score against the keeper, who reacted well (107'), before the striker hit the outside of the net from a good position shortly afterwards (112').

In the 118th minute of a thrilling final match, Makkabi's jubilation knew no bounds. A free-kick from around 20 meters hit the bottom edge of the crossbar, from where the ball unfortunately bounced off Sparta player Lukas Noack's back and into his own goal to make it 2:1 for TuS. However, the game was not over yet, because in stoppage time of extra time, Makkabi penetrated the penalty area again on the right and in the end it was Kyan Soltanpour who only had to push the ball into the empty goal after a clever cross pass - the 3:1 final score and the first title for TuS Makkabi in the Berlin State Cup.

The Berlin Football Association congratulates TuS Makkabi Berlin on winning the COSY-WASCH State Cup and SV Sparta Lichtenberg on a strong second place.

In a turbulent final phase, Viktoria Berlin secured a 2:1 victory over VSG Altglienicke in the final.

As part of the seventh amateur final day, VSG Altglienicke (Regionalliga Nordost) and FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin (3. Liga) faced each other in the final of the AOK State Cup for 1st Men at the Mommsenstadion on May 21, 2022 at 12:15 pm. It was not only about winning the cup, but also about participating in the first main round of the DFB Cup.

Altglienicke lead at the break

The match began with both teams feeling each other out in front of 1,215 spectators. Viktoria Berlin had the first real chance to score after around ten minutes, when Björn Jopek shot just half a meter over the goal from the back following a corner. In the 19th minute, it was then Viktoria's Lucas Falcao who was through on goal after receiving a through pass, but VSG keeper Leon Bätge allowed himself to be pushed too far into an acute angle and only managed to hit the outside of the net.

As the game, which was generally lacking in chances, slowly approached half-time, VSG Altglienicke scored the first top-class goal opportunity to take a 1:0 lead: After a precise cross, Tugay Uzan headed in from around eleven meters to give Altglienicke the lead. Shortly afterwards, Florijon Belegu even had the chance to increase the lead to 2:0, but the attacking player was denied by Viktoria keeper Philip Sprint, meaning the lead remained narrow at the break.

Intense second half

The second half started at a much faster pace, not least because Viktoria now invested a lot to reduce the deficit. This resulted in three great chances for the "Sky Blues" in the first quarter of an hour: First, Lukas Pinckert narrowly missed (47'), before VSG goalkeeper Leon Bätge made two strong saves against Moritz Seiffert (50') and Enes Küc (59').

VSG Altglienicke then had several opportunities to increase the lead to 2:0. After 64 minutes of play, Paul Manske shot a little too hastily from a free position on the right. Just three minutes later, his shot from a promising position narrowly missed the far corner. In the 75th minute, what was probably the biggest goal-scoring opportunity of the game came when Altglienicke had several chances to score within seconds, but either Viktoria keeper Philip Sprint or one of his team-mates was on hand to save.

Viktoria with a last-minute triumph

Events finally came thick and fast in the closing stages. First, Viktoria had to play on with ten players due to an injury. Shortly afterwards, referee Pascal Wien sent off Altglienicke's Tim Häußler with a yellow card for repeated fouls - the balance was restored. As a direct result of the resulting free-kick, it was Lukas Pinckert who equalized for Viktoria Berlin in the first minute of stoppage time. But that was not the end of the game: just as everything seemed to be heading for extra time, Viktoria's Soufian Benyamina beat the Altglienick defense single-handedly and finally netted the celebrated winning goal to make it 2:1 (90.+5).

While one side celebrated, the mood at VSG Altglienicke was correspondingly subdued after the last-minute defeat. VSG coach Karsten Heine nevertheless congratulated the opponents fairly and drew a factual conclusion: "If you don't score goals up front, you have to expect something like that at the back. That's why we're pinning the defeat on ourselves. It was unnecessary in the end".

Viktoria Berlin, on the other hand, were crowned cup winners for the ninth time. Coach Farat Toku was very relieved about the positive end to the season, especially in view of the team's relegation from the third division the previous week: "We wanted to say goodbye in a sensible way after the intense last few weeks and simply achieve another positive result. We managed to do that and I also think that we left the pitch as deserved winners after those 90 minutes."

The Berlin Football Association congratulates FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin on winning the 2022 AOK State Cup. On Wednesday evening, May 25, the "final summer" of 2022 in Berlin amateur soccer continues with the final of the Nike Youth Cup for A-juniors.

BFC Dynamo beat Berliner AK 2:1 in the final of the AOK State Cup.

On May 29, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., the long-awaited final of the AOK State Cup for men was kicked off as part of the sixth amateur final day at the Mommsenstadion. In the final, the two regional league teams BFC Dynamo and Berliner AK 07 faced each other to determine not only this year's Berlin Cup winner, but also the participant for the first main round of the DFB Cup. The match was broadcast live on rbb television.

First half picks up late

After referee Matthias Alm, for whom the final was his last match as a referee, blew the whistle, both teams immediately demonstrated their thirst for the trophy and played an intense game, although there were no real goalscoring opportunities for a long time. After just over half an hour, BFC Dynamo curled a free-kick past the goal from a promising position, before it was Nader El-Jindaoui at the other end who failed to beat BFC keeper Kevin Sommer with a great chance for Berliner AK after 37 minutes.

Shortly before half-time, Ugur Tezel, who had already been cautioned, was sent off with a yellow-red card after being repeatedly fouled by referee Alm.

Exciting second half

After a rather lacklustre start to the first half, the start of the second half was all the more exciting: the game had only been underway for just under three minutes when Andreas Pollasch converted a free-kick for BFC Dynamo to make it 1-0 for the Weinrot-Weißen in the 49th minute.

Berliner AK refused to accept the setback and immediately piled on the pressure: just five minutes after going behind, however, BAK player Nader El-Jindaoui was unable to convert a top-class scoring opportunity. For BFC, it was Andor Bolyki who failed to make it 2:0 after around 60 minutes.

In the second half, the "Athletes" increasingly managed to compensate for being outnumbered and put BFC under pressure, but without really forcing their way into the opposition box. It was not until around three minutes before the end of normal time that Lukas Lämmel missed a great chance to equalize. Things then immediately went in the other direction: Dynamo player Matthias Steinborn held his nerve in a one-on-one against BAK goalkeeper Pascal Kühn and scored to make it 2-0.

In stoppage time, Berliner AK were awarded a penalty, which Nader El-Jindaoui was able to convert to score the final goal.

Seventh cup win for BFC Dynamo

In the end, it remained 2:1 for BFC Dynamo, who lifted the trophy of the Berlin State Cup for the seventh time after the match and thus qualified for the first main round of the DFB Cup. Dynamo coach Christian Benbennek was highly satisfied after the match: "We kept getting fidgety during the game. But in the end, the 2:0 gave us more confidence. In the end, we're happy that we did it and I'm happy for us and our fans that we have something to celebrate today."

On the other hand, BAK coach André Meyer emphasized: "With a red card, it's difficult to survive against such a good team, but anyone who saw the second half still knows what my team is made of. In the end, it's all about scoring one more goal than your opponents, and we didn't manage that today."

VSG Altglienicke beat FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin 6:0 on the final day of the amateur competition.

VSG Altglienicke have won the Berlin Cup competition for the first time in the club's history and have also advanced to the first main round of the DFB Cup with their victory in the final. The team of coach Karsten Heine, who previously won the competition with Hertha BSC II in 1992 and 2004, won the final of the AOK regional cup against FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin 6:0. The match on Saturday, August 22, 2020 was broadcast live on ARD as part of the fifth amateur final day.

Altglienicke go in front shortly before the break

FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin initially got off to the better start in the match, which was played without spectators in the large stadium at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark. The Himmelblauen came close to the VSG goal for the first time with a long-range shot from Shinji Yamada (12 minutes). A short time later, Viktoria striker Falcao shot just over the crossbar (17'). The club from Lichterfelde came really close to taking the lead for the first time in the 40th minute: After a corner, the ball fell to Patrick Kapp's feet in the sixteen, but his shot from close range landed on the crossbar and not in the net.

That's exactly where the ball would hit a little later - but on the other side. In stoppage time of the first half, VSG Altglienicke, who had been inconspicuous up to that point, took advantage of a set piece to take the lead. A free-kick from Tim Häußler from the right half of the pitch was unstoppably extended by Johannes Manske into the far corner for a 1:0 lead (45.+1).

Three goals in five minutes decide the game

With the lead behind them, VSG Altglienicke came out of the locker room much more energetically. With three quick goals within five minutes, the team from Treptow-Köpenick decided the final in their favor midway through the second half. Linus Meyer (64'), Patrick Breitkreuz (66') and Christian Skoda (69') were the scorers of goals two to four.

Viktoria Berlin were unable to recover from this triple setback. Johannes Manske's second goal (76') and substitute Tugay Uzan's goal (89') finally made the final score 6:0.

As part of the Germany-wide "Amateur Finals Day", the final match for the AOK State Cup for Men's 1st Division between Tennis Borussia and FC Viktoria 1889 Berlin took place on May 25, 2019. The match, which Viktoria Berlin won 1-0 late on, kicked off at 10:30 a.m. in front of 2,712 euphoric spectators at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark.

Cautious start at Jahn-Sportpark

After Bundesliga referee Felix Zwayer had opened the match, both teams initially tried to stand securely at the back and create attacks from a stable defense. As a result, scoring chances were few and far between in the first half. The first dangerous chance came in the 14th minute. Viktoria Berlin's Timur Gayret broke through on the left and crossed to Marco Schikora, who headed just over the box from a promising position. TeBe continued to concentrate primarily on defensive work. The Purple & Whites allowed the Victorians little space, but rarely got in front of the opposing goal themselves. Rifat Gelici scored the first goal worth seeing for the Purple & Whites in the 38th minute when his shot was held by Stephan Flauder. The score was therefore 0-0 at the break.

Viktoria rewarded for courageous performance

In the second half, both teams reached operating temperature much quicker. Four minutes after the restart, former Bundesliga professional Timo Gebhart failed to beat TeBe keeper Aktas from close range. Shortly afterwards, Benyamina had the first chance of the second half for Tennis Borussia. Both teams now took more risks and opened up space for their opponents. As a result, it should have been 1-0 to Viktoria Berlin after 52 minutes: After a great chance from Marco Schikora was parried, Mcmoordy Hüther failed to get the ball under control in a wild scene and thus missed the chance to score from close range.

In the 81st minute, however, the time had come. After a collision between two players in midfield, play continued, Timo Gebhart was quickest to react and was able to play in Rafael Brand with a through ball, who slotted home into the far corner with Aktas free.

TeBe threw everything forward again in the final minutes, but were unable to create any more compelling chances from their attacking actions, meaning Viktoria Berlin ran out deserved winners after 90 minutes.

TeBe coach Dennis Kutrieb was visibly crestfallen after the game, but congratulated his opponents fairly on their victory and was positive about his team's performance despite the defeat. Viktoria Berlin coach Alexander Arsovic was delighted with his club's success after a difficult season and emphasized Jörg Goslar's part in the victory, who was head coach of the Himmelblaue until a few weeks ago.

The Berlin Football Association congratulates the winner, FC 1889 Viktoria Berlin, and thanks both finalists for their excellent cooperation.

In the first few minutes, a very respectable game developed with advantages for the Dynamos playing in their own stadium. The superiority was evident in BFC Dynamo's possession and ball security. The dominance soon paid off: In the 16th minute, Dynamo's top scorer Rufat Dadashov, whose involvement was unclear for a long time due to an injury, scored the 1:0. The ball could not be cleared out of the BSC penalty area and Dadashov was quickest to make the switch.

BFC Dynamo dominate the game

Until the middle of the first half, Berliner SC made little headway. In the 23rd minute, BFC defender Joshua Silva was yellow-carded for a tactical foul on the halfway line, denying Berliner SC a good counter-attacking opportunity. There was a similar situation at the other end in the 27th minute, when BSC player Kwasi Boachi stopped a good counter-attack from BFC. Just two minutes later, Timo Höfler (BSC) missed a great chance and put the ball just wide of the goal. In the 32nd minute, Joshua Silva headed the ball against the crossbar, but BSC were able to clear the situation. From the 40th minute onwards, Berliner SC gained more of the play and showed some good approaches before half-time.

Great tension shortly before the final whistle

The second half quickly picked up pace, with BFC Dynamo having two great chances to extend their lead in the 46th and 47th minutes. Finally, the 2:0 was scored from a set-piece in the 62nd minute. Once again, it was Dadashov who showed his scoring instinct after a free-kick from half-field, nodding in his fourth goal of the competition. Berliner SC then tried everything again, but it was difficult to create chances against the solid BFC defense. In stoppage time, Berliner SC were finally awarded a penalty. Captain Louis Arnst converted it safely to make the final score 2:1. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Necmi Ulucay almost equalized for Berliner SC with a header against the crossbar, but BFC Dynamo managed to see the result through and, as a result, were crowned defending champions of the 2018 Berliner Pilsner Cup.

The final remained exciting until the last minute. In the end, BFC prevailed 3:1 after extra time in front of 6690 spectators.

The rush for the day tickets for the Berliner Pilsner Cup final was so great that the match had to be kicked off with a ten-minute delay. The players on the pitch made up for the delay with some top-class attacking soccer in the first half.

FC Viktoria had a great chance after just one minute. After BFC keeper Hendl was able to clear a Viktorian chance for a corner, this resulted in a "100 percent chance", which Hendl again saved brilliantly.

The next scoring opportunity came in the 18th minute when Dynamo attacker Rabiega was beaten one-on-one by Viktoria goalkeeper Kisiel. Once again, the spectators were treated to another brilliant save from a goalkeeper. A rehearsed free-kick variation by FC Viktoria was particularly beautiful to watch. Four minutes after Kisiel had made an excellent save in the South Berlin goal, it was BFC goalkeeper Hendl who saved his team from falling behind with a brilliant save. Dynamo had their goalkeeper to thank again in the 43rd minute. Hendl confirmed his excellent form on the day by saving a huge chance from Viktoria. On the direct counter-attack, it was the ever-dangerous Kai Pröger who could have put the East Berliners ahead. However, he failed with his shot in the sixteen-meter area.

The referee ended an exciting first half full of chances.

Second half thrived on the tension

After half-time, there was a general feeling that the players on the pitch had used up all their powder in the first half. This was because the second half was particularly poor in terms of scoring chances and lived mainly from the tension. The first hint of danger came from an attacking move by Dynamo, but Kisiel in the Viktoria box had no problems here. The spectators, especially the BFC supporters, did not allow their high spirits to be spoiled at any time. Both teams could always rely on the uninterrupted support of their fans.

Things could have become dangerous in the 75th minute. Schünemann picked up a yellow card when he managed to stop a promising counter-attack by the Victorians. It was clear that both teams did not want to take too many risks. Too much was at stake and they were correspondingly cautious in their build-up play. After three minutes of stoppage time, the match went into the extra time that many expected.

BFCDynamo causes a state of emergency in the stands during extra time

FC Viktoria had to make their first substitution at the start of extra time due to injury. Mattia Trianni came on for the injured Thomas Franke. Shortly afterwards, the time had come for the first time:

BFC Dynamo countered a failed Viktoria corner in textbook fashion and Otis Breustedt, who came on as a substitute in the 77th minute, held his nerve and converted ice-cold to give the Hohenschönhausen side a 1-0 lead.

Surprisingly, Viktoria were visibly unimpressed and pressed for an immediate equalizer. The necessary luck was on BFC's side when the post saved the lead shortly before the end of the first period of extra time.

During the short break, Viktoria coach Ersan Parlatan motivated his players impressively. Viktoria's attacking play remained devoid of ideas for a long time until the 111th minute, when captain Ümit Ergirdi made quick thinking use of a rebound from the Dynamo defense to slot home the equalizer.

Everything pointed to a heart-stopping final that would be decided in a penalty shoot-out. Until Kai Pröger crowned his outstanding performance today with a feat of strength. The striker, who will move to RW Essen next season, took advantage of a moment of inattention by the Viktoria backline, who were all speculating that Pröger was offside, and scored to give BFC the lead again.

After FC Viktoria threw everything forward in the final minutes, it was Kai Pröger again who finished off a counter-attack with a wonderful lob over the Viktoria goalkeeper Kisiel, who had advanced with the ball.

"I couldn't have imagined a better way to say goodbye," said Pröger after the final whistle. And so it can be said once again without much pathos: these are stories that soccer writes.

The Berlin Football Association would like to thank all the participating teams in the Berliner Pilsner Cup, the spectators in attendance at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahnsportpark, the brave Viktoria Berlin team and especially the deserving winners of the cup, BFC Dynamo.

In front of 3874 spectators, BFC Preussen secured the title in the Berlin Pilsner Cup for men at the premiere of the amateur final day. The Berlin league team won 1:0 against Oberliga side Lichtenberg 47.

The final of the 2016 Berliner Pilsner Cup for men's 1st division featured a number of innovations. For the first time, an entire final match day was held at Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark with the finals of the lower, 2nd and 1st men's divisions. Despite the other two finals and a colourful supporting program, the highlight of the finals day was clearly the 1st men's final, which attracted 3874 paying spectators to the large stadium to support their teams. There was also another premiere: For the first time, the state cup finals were broadcast nationwide by ARD in a live conference to raise the profile of amateur soccer.

Naturally, the two finalists Lichtenberg 47 and BFC Preussen wanted to take advantage of this special stage and crown themselves winners of the 2016 Berliner Pilsner Cup in front of the TV cameras. The teams went into the match with corresponding motivation. BFC Preussen, who went into the game as underdogs against Lichtenberg 47, fifth in the NOFV-Oberliga table, tried to put up a physical fight from the outset and it became clear early on that it would not be an easy game for Lichtenberg. The ball found its way into the Lichtenberg goal for the first time in the fifth minute, but Robben's goal was disallowed. After BFC Preussen showed more attacking drive in the early stages, Lichtenberg had their first big chance through Thomas Brechler in the eleventh minute. However, this was not taken. René Robben did better at the other end. Following a corner, he headed BFC Preussen into the lead in the 19th minute. Although Lichtenberg upped the tempo afterwards, they failed to create any good scoring opportunities. Instead, it could have been 2-0 before the break. But after a mistake by Reiniger, René Robben failed to complete his brace. The final went into half-time with Preussen leading 1-0.

In the second half, Preussen increasingly withdrew. Apart from one chance from the ever-dangerous Robben, Lichtenberg were left in control of the ball and the game. However, the Oberliga side were unable to convert their visual dominance into opportunities. However, the pressure increased in the final 15 minutes. Preussen defended almost exclusively in their own penalty area and the good old clearance was increasingly used as an instrument. While the Preussen players were at the end of their tether and were plagued by the odd cramp, Lichtenberg still had two good opportunities in stoppage time. However, Gelicio Aurelio Banze missed the last chance just over the goal. After this miss in the 95th minute, referee Jacob Pawlowski saw sense and blew the whistle. The underdogs from BFC Preussen erupted in exuberant jubilation and were celebrated by their many fans.

After the award ceremony and the presentation of the new challenge cup by BFV President Bernd Schultz, the players of the nominal underdogs celebrated winning the 2016 Berliner Pilsner Cup for a long time with their supporters.