Goals Galore as Clubs Chase Cup Glory

Bundesliga teams were once again in extra-curricular action on Tuesday and Wednesday night in the second round of the DFB Cup. Battling minnows who had survived the earlier rounds found themselves with further opportunities to claim the scalps of the big clubs.

Hertha BSC Berlin traveled to Eintracht Braunschweig with no victories to their name in five games and were expected to get a result against the home side and record their first win in all competitions this season. However, it was not to be.

After laboring in the first half, Berlin took the lead through Marcelinho 13 minutes into the second half. But the lead was short lived. On the hour mark, Graf equalized for Braunschweig before Grimm shot Eintracht into the lead 14 minutes later. Zeke Neuendorf equalized for the capital team on 78 minutes only for an 80th minute own-goal from Alexander Madlung to condemn Hertha to a shock defeat.

Nürnberg, who have made a solid start to life back in the top-flight of German football, threw away a two-goal lead against second division Ahlen in another of the big shocks of the night at the Frankenstadion. First-half strikes from Mintal and Vittek were cancelled out in the second period by goals from Bamba and Gorschlüter in a three minute spell just before the hour mark. Ahlen won the game in extra time thanks to a second Bamba strike on 113 minutes.

Holders progress in classic match

Elsewhere, the clash of the round between holders Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen offered a classic contest with the reigning Bundesliga champions prevailing over the high-flying Leverkuseners 3-2 in the Weserstadion.

Johan Micoud shot Bremen ahead on five minutes after good work from Ivan Klasnic, but a 17th-minute Babic header had Klaus Augenthaler's visitors level. Frenchman Micoud then set up for Nelson Valdez to reclaim the lead on 55 minutes before the Paraguayan struck extended Bremen's lead three minutes later when his second goal.

Dimitar Berbatov headed Leverkusen back into contention with 20 minutes left, but the equalizer never materialized and Bremen remain on course to successfully defend the DFB Cup.

Makaay the savior once again

Bayern Munich had a lucky escape against a courageous Osnabruck side, coming back from 2-1 down to beat their brave opponents in injury time. Roy Makaay was the Bayern savior once again, striking the struck late winner in injury time after Claudio Pizarro had headed Bayern in front inside 5 minutes only to go down to goals from Enochs and Reichenberger.

Pizarro scored again with 15 minutes remaining and it was left to the flying Dutchman Makaay to net the goal which avoided the necessity of extra time and take Bayern into the third round.

Schalke's fortunes look to have turned a corner after the most dramatic game of the round saw the Royal Blues win a sensational match against Kaiserslautern. With the high-scoring game evenly poised at 4-4 at the end of extra time, Schalke secured the victory in a penalty shoot-out.

Ebbe Sand had given Schalke the lead on 32 minutes, only for Teber to equalize on the hour for Kaiserslautern. Mladen Krstajic then scored own goal almost immediately to turn the match on its head, before Lincoln scored the equalizer for the Royal Blues with 12 minutes left.

Sensational draw resolved by penalty kicks

Then, in a sensational injury time period, Sand thought he'd won it for Schalke with a 91st minute strike, only for Ingo Hertzsch to level a minute later with the last kick of the game. Teber scored his second of the night five minutes into extra-time, only for Krstajic to score at the correct end with four minutes left. Schalke then turned to goalkeeper Frank Rost for the heroics, saving from Engelhardt and Altintop from the penalty spot to seal the game.

The rest of the draw saw second-placed Bundesliga stars Stuttgart secure a comfortable 2-0 at Oberhausen thanks to second-half goals from Cacau and Alexander Hleb, while Hanover needed penalties to see off Energie Cottbus after a 2-2 draw.

Shoot-outs and last-gasp winners

Borussia Dortmund beat Unterhaching 3-1 thanks to two goals from Ewerthon; Hansa Rostock beat Köln on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw and Bayern Munich Amateurs beat last year's finalists Alemannia Aachen 2-1. In another all Bundesliga clash, Freiburg beat Bochum 3-2 after extra time.

Other results included Eintracht Frankfurt beating Greuther Fürth 4-2 after extra time; Mainz, losing 3-0 on penalties to second division Karlsruhe after a 1-1 draw, Arminia Bielefeld beat Köln Amateurs 4-2. Paderborn, conquerors of Hamburg in the first round, continued on their merry way with a 2-1 win over high-flying second division outfit MSV Duisburg while 1860 Munich were beaten 4-3 on penalties at home to Eintracht Trier.