As the second-tier DDR-Liga had been enlarged to 58 teams in the previous season, the competition had to be held in a new format.
Only two Bezirkspokal winners (Wismut Gera II and Fortschritt Krumhermersdorf) took part in this round, together with 16 second-tier teams.
Both Bezirkspokal winners were eliminated, as well as three top-flight teams: Sachsenring Zwickau, Vorwärts Frankfurt and Wismut Aue.
Hansa had eliminated defending champions FC Carl Zeiss Jena, but went out in the quarter-final against 1.
But in the match Lokomotive Leipzig began with a powerful attacking run on Magdeburg's goal.
Both teams now showed their willingness to end the game in regular time with opportunities on both sides.