Nuri Sahin enjoyed a successful start to his tenure as Borussia Dortmund coach, guiding the team to a comfortable 4-1 victory over fourth-tier side Phönix Lübeck in the first round of the German Cup on Saturday. The match marked the debuts of several new signings, including Pascal Gross, Waldemar Anton, Yan Couto, and Maximilian Beier, signaling a fresh start for Dortmund after a disappointing domestic season despite reaching the Champions League final.
Sahin, a former Dortmund player, was promoted to the head coach position after Edin Terzić stepped down, citing the need for a “new era” at the club. The new era got off to a positive start, with Gross delivering a corner for Anton to score in the third minute. Emre Can added a penalty in the 31st minute, and Gross set up Julian Brandt for a 3-0 lead before halftime. American defender Obinna Iloka pulled one back for Lübeck, but Couto set up Julien Duranville for Dortmund’s fourth goal in the 62nd minute.
Other Bundesliga teams, including Union Berlin, Freiburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Leipzig, and last season’s finalist Kaiserslautern, also advanced by overcoming lower-league opposition. Promoted Holstein Kiel also secured a victory. Bayern Munich eased into the second round with a 4-0 win at second division side Ulm on Friday.
