Sebastian Kehl fired a spectacular long-range volley in extra-time to give Borussia Dortmund a 3-2 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Tuesday and a place in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal.
Earlier, Ricardo Rodriguez converted a second-half penalty to see VfL Wolfsburg advance with a 1-0 victory over SC Freiburg.
Dortmund played without central defender Mats Hummels and forward Marco Reus, both injured, but took the lead in the 19th minute through defender Neven Subotic.
Photo: AFP
Kevin Volland’s volley from a corner in the 21st minute and Roberto Firmino’s chip in the 29th after being gifted the ball by Subotic turned the game in Hoffenheim’s favor, but Dortmund came out stronger after the break.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally notched the equalizer for Dortmund with a powerful header from a cross by Eric Durm.
Both teams missed chances to win it within 90 minutes, before second-half substitute Kehl fired in the winner from long range in the 107th minute.
“I just blasted it. It was a half-volley and I was fortunate that it bounced in off the post,” Kehl said.
With the win, Dortmund retained their hopes of rescuing an otherwise poor season.
Wolfsburg’s Rodriguez drilled a left-footed shot from the penalty spot inside the post in the 72nd minute, beating his Switzerland teammate, Freiburg goalkeeper Roman Buerki.
Buerki had managed to get his fingers on a shot by Vieirinha to turn the ball onto the crossbar late in the first half.
Rodriguez also made a vital late clearance when he blocked a shot by Freiburg’s Mike Frantz which was heading for an empty net.
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