Europe News
Last-gasp Robben buoys Bayern; Dortmund win on penalties
By Barry Whelan Dec 20, 2011, 22:31 GMT
Berlin - Arjen Robben scored a last-gasp winner as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich beat Bochum 2-1, while 10-man Borussia Dortmund overcame second division leaders Fortuna Dusseldorf on penalties to reach the quarter-finals of the German Cup Tuesday.
Top-flight side Nuremberg meanwhile crashed out 1-0 at home to second-division Greuther Fuerth who had a man sent off just after the hour.
Hoffenheim went through with a 2-1 defeat of Augsburg in an all first-division duel.
Bundesliga champions Dortmund played with 10 men for almost an hour of regular time plus 30 minutes of extra-time at Dusseldorf to emerge 5-4 winners in a penalty shoot-out after an entertaining tussle which ended goalless.
Dortmund were forced on the back foot when makeshift centre-back Patrick Owomoyela was dismissed after arriving late to bring down the lively Sascha Roesler in the 34th minute, earning a second yellow card within eight minutes.
Both sides had chances, but it was Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller who was far the busier of the two keepers, and when the game went to penalties it was Weidenfeller's save with his legs from Thomas Broeker's spot kick that settled the affair.
'I waited as long as I could and he shot down the middle,' said Weidenfeller. 'You need a bit of luck and I had that, but I think we as a team deserved it. We were down to 10 men but we played fantastically.'
Bayern came from a goal down at half-time to beat battling second-division Bochum who were seconds away from taking the game into extra-time before their home fans.
Bochum took a 26th-minute lead through Giovanni Federico, but Toni Kroos levelled in the 52nd minute after combining well with Mario Gomez, who had come off the bench at half-time.
Jerome Boateng hit the bar with a header from a corner as Bayern came out after the break with more urgency, but Jupp Heynckes's side had to wait until seconds into stoppage time for the winner when Robben slotted in following a pass across the area by Franck Ribery.
'Bochum can be proud, they gave everything and tried to get forward,' the Dutch winger said.
'They played a great game, but we also made things difficult for ourselves. I thought we would have to play an extra 30 minutes (of extra time).
'We are the 'autumn champions' (as midway league leaders), are in the next round of the cup and are in the Champions League. What more can you want?'
Heynckes also complimented Bochum on a battling performance but said he was not happy with his side in the first half.
'We looked sharper in the second half and started to cause Bochum trouble on a few occasions. It was a typical cup match where the underdogs play above themselves,' he said.
Greuther Fuerth had midfielder Bernd Nehrig sent off after a second booking in the 66th minute but held on for victory at Nuremberg, thanks to 15th-minute header from Edgar Prib following a corner.
Bosnian duo Sejad Salihovic in the 23rd minjute and Vedad Ibisevic in the 49th got the goals for Hoffenheim to overcome Augsburg who had levelled in the 36th minute through Torsten Oehrl.
Cup holders Schalke are at Borussia Moenchengladbach Wednesday in the four remaining last-16 matches.
Read more about Cup



