Dortmund ease into DFB Pokal second round with big win over Hamburg

Niko Kovac made seven alterations to his side, but Dortmund still controlled proceedings despite HEBC holding firm during the opening half-hour. The breakthrough arrived in the 33rd minute when defender Janek Wrede inadvertently turned the ball into his own net.

Daniel Svensson doubled the advantage just three minutes later before 18-year-old forward Samuele Inacio took centre stage. The teenager struck twice before the interval, putting the 2024 Champions League finalists four goals clear at half-time.

Former Wolves attacker Fabio Silva completed the scoring before the hour mark as Dortmund comfortably progressed to the next round.

The result came in front of an official crowd of 45,917, setting a German Cup attendance record for a fixture featuring a fifth-tier club. HEBC normally plays at a 2,500-capacity ground, but moved the tie to the 57,000-seat Volkspark Stadion for the occasion, with large sections of the support clad in Dortmund yellow.

Although HEBC were nominally the home side, the move is expected to provide a significant financial boost, with the amateur club receiving much of the matchday income.

Dortmund's deadline-day loan signing Ethan Nwaneri arrived too late to make his debut. Holders Bayern Munich open their campaign against second-tier Osnabruck on Wednesday.

"I was hoping for a win," Kovac told the media.

"The way we pulled it off, especially in the first half, makes me very happy. That's the kind of football we're capable of playing and the kind we need to play - especially at home. It has left us wanting more."

He added: "For me, what matters most is how many chances we created. That's because the more chances you have, the higher the likelihood that you'll win games." 

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