Dortmund lose SO to Bremen after thriller
Newport stun ‘Boro to set up dream Man City Cup tie’
MUNICH, Feb 6, (RTRS): Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of the German Cup 4-2 on penalties by visitors Werder Bremen in the last 16 after a thrilling 3-3 draw, with the Bundesliga leaders twice throwing away the lead in extra time.
Max Kruse netted the decisive spot kick for Bremen whose goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka had saved penalties from Dortmund’s Paco Alcacer and Maximilian Philipp.
Achraf Hakimi’s 113th minute strike appeared to have clinched Dortmund’s place in the quarter-finals but Bremen’s Martin Harnik netted six minutes later to force the shootout.
Bremen, who are 10th in the league standings, took a fifth minute lead through Milot Rashica but Dortmund captain Marco Reus levelled in first-half stoppage time from a free kick. Reus had to be substituted due to injury after the interval.
US international Christian Pulisic put the hosts 2-1 ahead at the end of the first half of extra time but Claudio Pizarro levelled for Bremen after the second interval, leaving Hakimi and Harnik to trade blows for each side before the shootout.
In London, Fourth-tier Newport County pulled off another FA Cup shock by beating Championship side Middlesbrough 2-0 in a fourth-round replay to set up a dream tie with Manchester City.
Premier League Wolverhampton Wanderers saw off a determined Shrewsbury Town to win 3-2 at home and will be joined in the fifth round by Queens Park Rangers, who overcame Portsmouth 2-0.
Bremen’s scorer Milot Rashica, (up), celebrates his opening goal with Bremen’s Max Kruse, (left), during the German soccer Cup, DFB Pokal, match between Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen in Dortmund,
Germany, Feb 5. (AP )
Non-league Barnet’s adventure in the competition came to an end as they lost 3-1 at fellow Londoners Brentford.
Newport had knocked out 2016 Premier League champions Leicester City in the third round and were set on their way to another giant-killing when Robbie Wilmott struck two minutes into the second half on a soggy Welsh pitch.
Irish striker Padraig Amond doubled the lead 20 minutes later with a magnificent goal as he swiveled to meet a corner and curled the ball high into the net with one touch.
The goal sparked wild celebrations as Newport, 14th in League 2, reached the fifth round for the first time since 1949.
It was an unforgettable night for their goalkeeper Joe Day, whose wife went into labour during the game.
Wolves took an early lead against third-tier Shrewsbury through Matt Doherty but then fell 2-1 behind before Doherty levelled just before the interval.
Portuguese Ivan Cavaleiro struck in the second half to win the tie and set up a fifth-round game at Bristol City.
QPR will next host fellow London side Watford, while Bretntford visit Swansea.
In Paris Olympique de Marseille boosted their hopes of qualifying for European football by beating Girondins Bordeaux 1-0 at home in an empty stadium in Ligue 1, benefiting from Samuel Kalu being sent off midway through the first half.
Teenage defender Boubacar Kamara scored shortly