New Straits Times

Heavyweigh­ts cruise in German Cup

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BERLIN: A hat-trick for PierreEmer­ick Aubameyang and a brace for Robert Lewandowsk­i saw Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich reach the second round of the German Cup on Saturday.

Defending champions Dortmund eased to a 4-0 victory over sixth-tier minnows Riesalinge­nArlen, while Bayern secured a 5-0 win over third division Chemnitz.

A deflected free-kick saw Lewandowsk­i open the scoring for Bayern after just 20 minutes with the Bundesliga champions striking again on the counter-attack shortly after half-time, Kingsley Coman doubling the lead.

Record signing Corentin Tolisso set up Bayern’s third goal, sending in a low cross for Lewandowsk­i to tap in his second of the afternoon.

With victory assured, Franck Ribery whipped a direct free-kick into the bottom corner in the 79th minute, and Mats Hummels headed in Bayern’s fifth just before the final whistle.

“The most important thing today was reaching the second round,” Lewandowsk­i told Sky Sport. “It’s always important to score the first goal, and it’s not always easy. We didn’t have much space today, Chemnitz played defensivel­y.”

Dortmund were dominant from the offset, Marc Bartra gave Peter Bosz’s team the lead in the 12th minute, and Aubameyang made it 2-0 from the penalty spot just before half-time.

Aubameyang netted his second with a chip over goalkeeper Dennis Klose on 55 minutes, and completed his hat-trick ten minutes from time.

Hoffenheim, meanwhile, failed to muster a convincing performanc­e ahead of the first leg of their Champions League playoff against Liverpool tomorrow.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side struggled to a 1-0 victory over third tier Rot-Weiss Erfurt.

Goals from Timothy Chandler, Mijat Gacinovic and Sebastien Haller were enough to secure a laboured win for Frankfurt.

Elsewhere, Europa League qualifiers FC Cologne scored five against fifth tier Lehe, while Freiburg and Mainz also secured their places in the second round. AFP

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