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Lucas Alario was left behind
Photo: Uwe Kraft / imago images / Uwe Kraft
Arminia Bielefeld was beaten in the opening round of the cup, then defeated Fortuna Düsseldorf, this time fought into extra time, lagging behind - and yet there was a happy ending: Rot-Weiss Essen, the last amateur club, is still represented in the DFB Cup.
Against Bayer Leverkusen, the outsider made it into the quarter-finals.
Essen held up well and only had to accept a goal from Leon Bailey (105th minute) in extra time.
Oğuzhan Kefkir equalized shortly afterwards (108th), Simon Engelmann caused the sensation (117th).
After two league games without a goal of their own at RB Leipzig (0: 1) and against VfL Wolfsburg (0: 1), the lack of opportunity was the big issue in Leverkusen.
It was similar in Essen: Bayer often came in front of the goal, but did not make enough of his opportunities.
The evening that hit the post
At the beginning of the second half, Moussa Diaby hit the post with a shot from an acute angle (50th minute), it was already the second goal after Patrik Schick had headed the aluminum in the first half (24th).
In the final minutes, the number three and four posts came in actions by Diaby and Charles Aránguiz.
The Bundesliga side had many more chances, but keeper Daniel Davari was there in time or a foot of the opponent in between.
And even when Bailey scored in the 105th minute, the underdog still had answers ready.
The quarter-finals in the DFB-Pokal will be played on March 2nd and 3rd.
Solo circumnavigator Boris Herrmann will draw the pairings as part of the ARD “Sportschau” on Sunday (6.30 p.m.) alongside DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff.
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Jan