Stuttgart thump Pokal opponents Hansa Rostock as Pejčinović nets debut hattrick

VfB Stuttgart's marquee summer signing Dzenan Pejčinović hit the ground running to help guide his new employers towards a 4-0 DFB-Pokal triumph over FC Hansa Rostock this evening. The 21-year-old bagging a memorable hattrick on his full debut in the opening round.

Stuttgart showed their intent in the initial exchanges as Maxi Mittelstädt tested Luca Unbehaun from range. Pejčinović's opening goal soon came from Rostock's first defensive lapse, as Tiago Tomas teed him up in the box to pick out the bottom-right corner.

While former Bayern academy talent Leon Dajaku posed a threat, Stuttgart looked more likely to double their lead. They did just that on 37 minutes as Deniz Undav slipped in Pejčinović once more to finish with conviction. Hansa trailed by two at the interval.

Not uncommon for any first-round Pokal fixture, pyrotechnics brought a brief halt to the early second-half action. When Sacha Stegemann allowed play to resume, Sebastian Hoeneß' side continued were they left off by maintaining a vice-like grip on possession.

At times, Dajaku looked like the sole spark in Rostock's offence, drawing a fine save from Fabian Bredlow past the hour. Hoeneß soon turned to his bench as Bilal El Khannouss replaced Führich. Rostock also made a double change introducing Krauss and Karada. 

However, the final nail was driven into the host's coffin with just over 15 minute to play. Angelo Stiller and Undav linked up for the latter to slip in Tiago Tomas on the left. The acute angle did little to deter the Portuguese winger from netting a third goal via the bar.

As poetic as his debut had been since the first whistle, it seemed only fitting that Pejčinović grabbed his hattrick goal. Josha Vagnoman cut down the right before serving a cross for the man of the evening to tap in. With it, they cantered into the second round with a 4-0 win.