BERLIN (AP) — Three Bundesliga clubs moved into the second round of the German Cup on Friday but they all needed extra time or penalties to overcome lower-tier opposition on a night of near upsets.
Bundesliga side Hoffenheim came close to being knocked out at third-tier Wurzburger Kickers.
Hoffenheim went behind after 11 minutes but an own goal eight minutes later took the game to extra time. Wurzburg led again after scoring in the 100th minute, but Marius Bülter equalized for Hoffenheim in the 107th to take the game to penalty kicks.
Wurzburg captain Dominik Meisel was the only player to miss from the spot as Hoffenheim won the shootout 5-3.
Fourth-tier Hallescher was seconds away from embarrassing last season’s second-division champion St Pauli.
Hallescher led 2-1 until Adam Dźwigała equalized in the 94th. Substitute Lars Ritzka scored the winner for the Hamburg club in the 110th minute to give it a 3-2 victory.
Mainz recovered from going 1-0 down against third-tier Wehen Wiesbaden and needed extra-time goals from captain Jonathan Burkardt and midfielder Nadiem Amiri to clinch a 3-1 win.
Bayern Munich, in its first competitive game under new coach Vincent Kompany, will aim to avoid more of the same trouble when it takes on third-tier Ulm later Friday. ___
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