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Leverkusen's German Cup shock

Paddy HiggsFebruary 12, 2014

Kaiserslautern have sent Bayer Leverkusen spiraling out of the DFB Pokal, denying them with a sensational extra-time goal. Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich have also progressed.

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Kaiserslautern's Ruben Jenssen celebrates after scoring his side's winner against Leverkusen. Photo: Getty
Image: Getty Images

Wolfsburg overcame Hoffenheim 3-2, while Bayern strolled past under-siege Hamburg 5-0. In Leverkusen, the late strike from Norwegian midfielder Ruben Yttergard Jenssen was enough to send 2. Bundesliga outfit Kaiserslautern through to the semi-finals.

The Red Devils paid scant respect to the many places that lie between them and the Bundesliga's second-placed team in Leverkusen. They started the match as underdogs. Around 120 minutes of play later, they were giant killers.

Kaiserslautern dug in during the first half, soaking up Leverkusen's pressure and keeping the hosts' chances to a premium. Leverkusen did have a handful of opportunities, with Eren Derdiyok's header on 15 minutes exceptionally kept out by Kaiserslautern goalkeeper Tobias Sippel.

It was a match of few highlights, with Kaiserslautern intent on keeping things dour and Leverkusen unable to rise above the mire.

Extra-time seemed inevitable, and when that came, so too did Kaiserslautern's best opportunity of the match. After Leverkusen debutant Andres Guardardo's infringement in the area, Mohammadou Idrissou was handed a chance from the spot.

His effort was wide of Leno's left upright - horribly wide. His side, so brave in the minutes before, could have fallen apart in the minutes after.

Instead, Jenssen handed Kaiserslautern the result they had scrapped so hard for, lashing home with his left foot after Karim Matmour's run ended in an Idrissou cross.

Wolves howl into semi-finals

Elsewhere, Wolfsburg overcame Hoffenheim 3-2 in a match that could not have been more removed from the one taking place in Leverkusen.

Despite a paltry home crowd of around 12,000, Hoffenheim - befitting their iridescent yellow away shirts - began the brighter side, with Brazilian forward Roberto Firmino particularly threatening.

But it was Wolfsburg who took the lead. Jannik Vestergaard's only response to being beaten by Kevin De Bruyne on 26 minutes was to lazily stick out a leg as the Belgian slalomed past, and awarding a penalty was an easy decision for referee Peter Gagelmann.

Ricardo Rodriguez stroked home to put Wolfsburg in front. He was the scorer - and winner - of the penalty to put his side up 2-1 shortly before half-time, with Roberto Firmino having briefly brought Hoffenheim level with a deflected effort on 38 minutes.

Ricardo Rodriguez scores from the spot in Wolfsburg's win over Hoffenheim. Photo: Getty
Two goals and a red card made it an eventful game for Wolfsburg's Ricardo Rodriguez.Image: Getty Images

Wolfsburg scored the vital third goal in the 63rd minute. Ivan Perisic's superb cross after a well-worked move needed just a tap in from striker Bas Dost, and the Dutchman duly obliged. Wolfsburg could even survive the red card to Rodriguez and a late second to Brazilian forward Firmino to progress to the semi-finals.

In the later game, Bayern heaped more misery on Bert van Marwijk's Hamburg outfit, with goals to Mario Mandzukic and Dante inside the first 25 minutes putting the visitors on their way.

Mandzukic finished with a well-taken hat trick, while Arjen Robben also claimed a goal as Bayern barely raised a sweat against their out-of-form hosts.