Favourite-fall trap in the Wuhlheide: domestically, however, the Alte Försterei quickly became a trap for favourites. In the 2000/01 season, all of football Germany finally got to know the cult venue in Köpenick. That happened especially through Union’s cup matches in that memorable season.
In the cramped stadium where the scoreboard was still changed by hand and where the pitch in the snow-covered semi-final looked more like a Brandenburg field than a modern playing surface, the professional outsiders strung one upset after another together. The absolute peak came in the semi-final against Borussia Mönchengladbach. On 6 February 2001, Union reached the final by winning 6–4 on penalties.