German Cup: Dortmund sneak through, Darmstadt and Mainz out
October 26, 2016
Borussia Dortmund 1 –1 Union Berlin (3-0 on penalties)
(Parensen og 44'- Skrzybski 81')
Borussia Dortmund held their nerve to scrape through a tough second-round tie against second division high flyers Union Berlin. Dortmund looked comfortable after a first-half own goal but were pegged back by a stunning late Steven Skrzybski effort before finally winning on penalties.
Last year's Cup finalists were eventually rewarded for a lively first-half display just before the interval but they needed an Union man to take the decisive touch. Dortmund's 18-year-old Danish winger, Jacob Bruun Larsen, found space on the right before driving towards goal and Union left back Michael Parensen turned the ball into his own net.
Dortmund had the lion's share of the ball and created a string of presentable chances but the capital city club, flying high in second place in Bundesliga 2, were resilient and organized enough to stay in the game.
Their persistence was rewarded by Skrzybski 's sensational strike with just nine minutes remaining of normal time. Dortmund thought they'd done their job in clearing a Berlin corner but as the ball bounced on the right hand angle of the 18-yard box, the striker hammered it back across goal and past Roman Weidenfeller, much to the delight of the traveling fans.
Adrian Ramos and Gonzalo Castro were among several Dortmund players who spurned opportunities in extra time as BVB threw everything they had at the visitors but it wasn't enough to avoid spot kicks.
Things started badly for Union when Felix Kroos' effort was saved by Weidenfeller after Dembele had scored. They got worse when Stefan Fürstner and Phillip Hosiner also failed after Matthias Ginter and Mario Götze had succeeded and Dortmund became one of only nine Bundesliga teams through to the third round.
FC Astoria Walldorf 1-0 Darmstadt
(Hillenbrand 32')
Darmstadt became yet another victim of a German Cup second round full of giant slayings, as the Bundesliga outfit exited the German Cup at the hands of fourth-tier side FC Astoria Walldorf, who pulled off the biggest result in their short history with a hard-fought 1-0 win.
The hosts, who have a connection with Hoffenheim's chief financial backer, Dietmar Hopp, and were formed in their current guise just 21 years ago, have struggled in the southwestern German regional league this season, winning just 16 points from their 15 games. However, they more than matched their more illustrious opponents throughout Wednesday's match and prevailed thanks to Nico Hillenbrand's first-half goal.
The winger beat Darmstadt goalkeeper Michael Esser to Pascal Pelowski's 32nd-minute cross and tapped the ball in on the volley from inside the six-yard box, sending the stadium that bears Hopps' name in to raptures.
Bayern Munich 3 - 1 Augsburg
(Lahm 2', Green 41', Alaba 90+4 – Ji 69')
The Cup holders, Bayern Munich, are through to the last 16 after a victory over local rivals Augsburg. First-half goals from Phillip Lahm and Julian Green and a late David Alaba strike proved enough despite a late Augsburg fightback and a missed penalty for each side.
The Bundesliga champions opened the scoring with their first attack of the match. Lahm exchanged passes with Thomas Müller on the right flank before whipping a shot past Augsburg keeper Marwin Hitz and into the far corner of the net. The two Bayern men combined again shortly before the break for the second. This time Lahm's cute flick found Müller in space and he crossed to the head of Julian Green. The American youngster buried his header low to the right of Hitz.
Four minutes into the second half, the visitors failed to convert from the spot after the referee determined that
Mats Hummels had fouled Gojko Kacar in area. Manuel Neuer dove to his left to push out Ja Cheol Koo's poorly taken penalty. Then it was then Bayern's turn, Müller put his penalty over the bar after blazing over the bar after a handball. The Germany international has yet to score in 10 domestic games this term.
Augsburg regained a glimmer of hope when Dong-Won Ji hammered home on 69 minutes. The striker made ground on the left before blazing a shot from a tight angle that flew past Neuer and into the roof of the net. But they couldn't find an equalizer and it was left to substitute David Alaba to settle the tie with a left-footed drive that crept in at the near post.
SpVgg Greuther Fürth 2 – 1 Mainz
(Sarerer 79', Berisha 90' . Cordoba 68')
Two late goals saw second-division side Fürth send top flight Mainz crashing out of the Cup at the second hurdle.
Mainz dominated possession and territory from the start but couldn't find a way through the hosts' backline until the 68th minute when Jhon Cordoba rose highest to head in a corner off the post.
But the Bundesliga team couldn't hold their lead and conceded 13 minutes later. Niko Bungert lost the ball and Fürth pounced. Sercan Sarerer found Veton Berisha in space on the edge of the box before continuing his run. Berisha returned the pass and Sarerer lashed in to square things up.
However, the best was yet to come for the home fans when Berisha sparked scenes of joy with the winner. The Norwegian international started the move in midfield before breaking into the box and reacting quickest after Mainz keeper Jonas Lössl stopped the initial shot but failed to control the ball.
Other German Cup results - Wednesday October 26
Cologne 2 - 1 Hoffenheim (ET)
Hannover 6 - 1 Düsseldorf
Hedenheim 0 - 1 Wolfsburg
Nuremberg 2 - 3 Schalke