Saarbrucken, a Third-Division Team, Pull Off Shocking Win Over Bayern Munich in German Cup

Saarbrucken, a Third Division Team, Stun Bayern Munich in the German Cup Record-breaking champions Bayern Munich faced their fourth consecutive early exit from the German Cup as determined Saarbrucken rallied from behind to secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory in the second round.

Bayern assumed control from the start but struggled to break through Saarbrucken’s well-organized defense, as reported by Xinhua.

However, Bayern managed to open the scoring with their first clear-cut opportunity in the 14th minute, as Thomas Muller had ample time and space to unleash a powerful shot from 22 meters into the top of the net.

Saarbrucken, undeterred, equalized just before halftime when Lukas Boeder dispossessed young Frans Kratzig near the penalty area, enabling Patrick Sontheimer to capitalize on Boeder’s subsequent cutback pass.

In the second half, Bayern increased the pressure, but Saarbrucken’s defense stood firm against the German giants’ onslaught.

The visitors tested their luck with long-range efforts, but Saarbrucken’s goalkeeper, Tim Schreiber, thwarted Leroy Sane’s strike from 20 meters in the 50th minute. Sane continued to press, but he couldn’t beat Schreiber moments later from a tight angle.

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Schreiber had his hands full in the closing stages, as Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry also tried their luck from distance.

In a surprising turn of events, just as extra time seemed inevitable, Saarbrucken shocked Bayern with an injury-time winner. Tim Civeja’s square pass following a throw-in near the midfield allowed Marcel Gaus to beat Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with a deflected shot from inside the box in the dying seconds of injury time.

“It’s absolute madness that we won tonight. We knew we had to finish it within 90 minutes, as we didn’t have the strength for extra time. We had to run and defend a lot. That’s why we went all-in in the last minutes. The team displayed incredible determination. I’m immensely proud of the boys,” commented Saarbrucken coach Rudiger Ziehl.

“We just weren’t smart enough. You have to give credit to Saarbrucken for their performance. If Bayern loses to Saarbrucken, then we must have made a lot of mistakes,” remarked Bayern veteran Thomas Muller.

In other matches, Bayer Leverkusen made a remarkable comeback from a two-goal deficit to overpower third-division side Sandhausen 5-2. Second-division club Paderborn surprised Freiburg with a 3-1 victory, Dortmund narrowly defeated Hoffenheim 1-0, Eintracht Frankfurt secured a 2-0 win against third-tier Viktoria Cologne, and Mainz suffered a 3-0 loss to second-division team Hertha Berlin.