Oman Daily Observer

Frankfurt reach German Cup semis

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two BERLIN: Borussia Dortmund’s German Cup quarterfin­al at giantkille­rs Sportfreun­de Lotte was called off on Tuesday because of heavy snowfall before kick-off.

Referee Felix Brych took the decision shortly before kick-off at 8:45pm (1945 GMT) after deciding the playing surface was unsafe.

A replacemen­t date will be discussed on Wednesday, the German Football Associatio­n (DFB) said.

“I could not guarantee the health of the players, the surface was soaked,” minutes after the break when Dybala was fouled by Kalidou Koulibaly in the box. Higuain pulled Juve ahead as he scored from a narrow angle off Brych told broadcaste­r ARD.

“The snow showers, an hour before the game, were fierce. The surface would have been ploughed up after 10 to 15 minutes.”

Third-division Lotte have beaten Bundesliga sides Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen in previous rounds.

Earlier on Tuesday, Eintracht Frankfurt booked their place in the semifinals with a 1-0 win at home to Arminia Bielefeld.

Danny Blum scored what proved a corner, with Dybala again called on for penalty duties after Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina brought down Juan Cuadrado. to be Frankfurt’s minutes.

There were emotional scenes in added time as defender Marco Russ came on for the final minutes for his first appearance since chemothera­py while suffering from cancer last year.

The 31-year-old came on to loud applause on his return.

Cup holders Bayern Munich host Schalke 04 on Wednesday and Hamburg are at home to Borussia Moenchengl­adbach in the other quarterfin­al. winner after six

 ??  ?? Napoli’s Guinean midfielder Amadou Diawara (L) vies for the ball with Juventus’ Argentinia­n forward Paulo Dybala during the Italian Cup in Turin.
Napoli’s Guinean midfielder Amadou Diawara (L) vies for the ball with Juventus’ Argentinia­n forward Paulo Dybala during the Italian Cup in Turin.
 ?? — Reuters ?? Eintracht’s Guillermo Varela and Bielefeld’s Christophe­r Noethe in action.
— Reuters Eintracht’s Guillermo Varela and Bielefeld’s Christophe­r Noethe in action.
 ?? — AFP ??
— AFP

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