Dzenan Pejcinovic scores hat-trick on debut as VfB Stuttgart defeat Hansa Rostock 4-0 in DFB-Pokal
VfB Stuttgart advanced to the second round of the DFB-Pokal on Friday with a 4-0 away win against third-tier FC Hansa Rostock, led by three goals from 25 million euro summer signing Dzenan Pejcinovic.
Clinical debut for new forward
VfB Stuttgart began their DFB-Pokal campaign with a 4-0 away victory against 3. Liga side FC Hansa Rostock at the Ostseestadion on Friday. The visitors took control despite an early setback in the ninth minute, when midfielder Nikolas Nartey had to leave the pitch due to an injury. Nartey had previously spent the 2019/20 season on loan at Rostock. Forward Dzenan Pejcinovic, signed this summer from VfL Wolfsburg for 25 million euros, opened the scoring in the 18th minute after Tiago Tomas capitalized on a loose ball in the Rostock half. Pejcinovic doubled the lead in the 37th minute when Hansa defender Franz Pfanne slipped during buildup play, allowing the 21-year-old striker to finish past goalkeeper Luca Unbehaun.
I am happy to have had such a debut. For me, it is also important that I work for the team, that I do my part for success, and I succeeded quite well today.
Control and missed chances in the first half
Stuttgart dictated tempo throughout the opening period, finishing the first half with 71% possession and 362 passes compared to Rostock's 144. Hansa manager Daniel Brinkmann made seven changes from his previous league starting lineup, retaining only Unbehaun, Florian Carstens, Florian Bohnert, and Andreas Voglsammer in a defensive five-man backline. Chris Führich nearly added a second goal for Stuttgart in the 20th minute, while Unbehaun tipped a long-distance strike from Jeff Chabot onto the post in the 25th minute. Rostock created their best first-half opportunity in the 22nd minute when Andreas Voglsammer sent Leon Dajaku clear on goal, but the former Stuttgart youth forward misplaced his pass instead of taking a shot. Stuttgart goalkeeper Fabian Bredlow, starting in place of injured regular Dennis Seimen, later saved a 41st-minute direct volley from Yannick Michaelis.
- VfB Stuttgart
- 362 passes
- FC Hansa Rostock
- 144 passes
Pyrotechnics delay and second-half dominance
Referee Sascha Stegemann suspended play for eight minutes shortly after the restart in the 49th minute. Heavy smoke covered the pitch after Hansa supporters on the southern stand ignited pyrotechnics. When play resumed, Rostock had another opportunity in the 62nd minute, but Bredlow stopped Dajaku's curling effort. Stuttgart regained composure and extended their advantage in the 74th minute when Tiago Tomas beat Unbehaun with a powerful shot from a tight angle. Pejcinovic concluded the scoring in the 82nd minute, converting his third goal of the evening in front of 27,453 spectators.
- Nikolas Nartey suffers an early injury and is substituted
- Dzenan Pejcinovic opens the scoring from a Tiago Tomas pass
- Pejcinovic doubles the lead after a Rostock defensive error
- Match paused for eight minutes due to pyrotechnics in the stands
- Tiago Tomas scores from a narrow angle to make it 3-0
- Pejcinovic completes his hat-trick for the final 4-0 score
Tournament context and next fixtures
The result sends Stuttgart into the second round of the cup competition for the 2026/27 season. The club won the DFB-Pokal in 2025 and reached the final in 2026 under head coach Sebastian Hoeneß, having won 19 of their last 22 matches in the tournament. For Hansa Rostock, the defeat marks their third consecutive first-round exit, following previous opening-round losses against Hertha BSC (5-1) and TSG Hoffenheim (4-0). Rostock earn 228,189 euros in participation prize money from the opening round and return to 3. Liga action on August 30 with an away fixture against 1. FC Saarbrücken.
