Dortmund in Cup semi- finals
Berlin, Feb. 10: PierreEmerick Aubameyang claimed his 30th goal of the season on Tuesday to help fire Borussia Dortmund into the German Cup semifinals with a 3- 1 victory at VfB Stuttgart.
Gabon striker Aubameyang and Germany winger Marco Reus, who have provided 45 of Dortmund’s goals in all competitions this season, netted before Henrik Mkhitaryan claimed their late third.
Aubameyang has now scored in each of Dortmund’s last seven German Cup games, dating back to the start of last season, having also netted in Dortmund’s 3- 1 Cup final defeat to Wolfsburg last May.
“Auba knows how to take his chances and he works hard on his finishing every day,” said Reus.
Dortmund are in the semifinals for the third season in a row while spirited Stuttgart had their five- match winning streak, dating back to midDecember, being ended.
Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich will attempt to join Dortmund in the last four when they play VfL Bochum on Wednesday while minnows Heidenheim host Hertha Berlin.
Dortmund took the lead at Stuttgart’s Mercedes Benz Arena when Reus fired home off the crossbar with just five minutes gone.
Stuttgart fought back and levelled when Lukas Rupp’s shot deflected off Mkhitaryan and into the Dortmund net on 21 minutes to the home fans’ delight.
The visitors regained the lead when Reus set up Aubameyang for his 30th in all competitions, and Mkhitaryan scored a simple tap- in on 89 minutes.
Earlier, veteran Claudio Pizarro helped seal Werder Bremen’s 3- 1 quarterfinal win at ten- man Bayer Leverkusen by playing a key role in their shock victory.