Holders Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Wednesday came from two goals down and scored a last-gasp equalizer before snatching a 3-2 extra-time win over second-division club Cologne to reach the DFB-Pokal semi-finals.
Victor Boniface volleyed in the winner in the 98th minute after fellow Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick, who had cut the deficit in the 61st minute, headed in deep in second-half stoppage-time to force extra-time in a pulsating encounter.
“I am satisfied to have reached the semi-final,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, whose team has now won a club record 10 consecutive DFB-Pokal matches.
Photo: AFP
Leverkusen, who are in second place in the Bundesliga, have also qualified for the UEFA Champions League round-of-16.
“It was a very tough game against a very good opponent, but we showed a good reaction,” Alonso told a news conference. “It was maybe not our best game, but we played with a big heart. We fought until the last minute to reach this stage.”
COPPA ITALIA
Photo: Reuters
Reuters, MILAN, Italy
Joao Felix scored on his debut on Wednesday, while Tammy Abraham netted a double against his parent club to earn AC Milan a 3-1 win over AS Roma in their Coppa Italia quarter-final tie at the San Siro.
Milan, five-times winners of the Coppa Italia, face either Inter or SS Lazio in the two-legged semi-final.
Photo: AFP
Abraham, who joined Milan from Roma in August on a season-long loan deal, put the hosts in front in the 16th minute before punishing his old teammates again three minutes before the break.
Roma substitute Artem Dovbyk pulled one back nine minutes into the second half.
Felix came off the bench and netted in the 71st minute, two days after his arrival on loan from Chelsea.
Photo: AFP
COPA DEL REY
AP, MADRID
Gonzalo Garcia on Wednesday scored in stoppage-time as Real Madrid avoided an upset by defeating CD Leganes 3-2 to reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.
Madrid had taken a two-goal lead at halftime with Luka Modric and Endrick before the hosts rallied to even the match in the second half.
Twenty-year-old Garcia sealed the victory with a header three minutes into stoppage-time after a cross by Brahim Diaz.
“I’m thrilled, filled with emotions. It has been a dream since I was a child and since I joined the youth teams. I’m happy to have scored the goal that gave us a place in the semi-finals,” Garcia said. “It was a perfect cross by Brahim and the ball went in by itself.”
COUPE DE FRANCE
AP, PARIS
Stade Briochin, a team from France’s fourth tier, on Wednesday pulled off a huge upset in the Coupe de France by beating top-flight OGC Nice 2-1 in the last-16 thanks to a goal in the seventh minute of stoppage-time.
Stade Briochin are not the only team from National 2 in the quarters, with AS Cannes beating third-tier SU Dives-Cabourg 5-3 to advance.
It was night of shocks in the competition as En Avant Guingamp, from second-tier Ligue 2, defeated Toulouse 2-0.
Elsewhere, Angers SCO beat Strasbourg 3-1.
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