AP, BIELEFELD, Germany
Arminia Bielefeld on Tuesday pulled off a major upset in the DFB-Pokal by defeating defending champions Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-1 in their semi-final.
The third-division team came from behind after Jonathan Tah gave the visitors a 17th-minute lead.
Marius Worl replied three minutes later and Maximilian Groser scored Bielefeld’s second goal just before the break.
Arminia Bielefeld players celebrate their semi-final win against Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal at the SchucoArena in Bielefeld, Germany, on Tuesday.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The home team looked more likely to add to that tally as the Leverkusen players looked jaded.
“I’m just proud of this team,” Bielefeld coach Mitch Kniat said as most of the fans the small stadium sang around him. “No one will sleep in the city tonight.”
Patrik Schick went closest for the visitors in the 81st minute when his header struck the post.
“That was by far our worst game of the season,” said Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich, who added that the absence of injured star Florian Wirtz was no excuse. “With all due respect to Bielefeld, we should be able to beat them with the squad we have.”
Leverkusen won the title last year as part of an unprecedented domestic league-cup double without losing a game.
Bielefeld are fourth in Germany’s third division with eight rounds remaining. Only the top three have a chance of promotion, with the top two going straight up to the second division.
To reach the semi-final, Bielefeld each time defeated teams playing in higher divisions, starting with second-division Hannover 96 in the first round, then Bundesliga sides Union Berlin, SC Freiburg and Werder Bremen.
It is the first time that Bielefeld have reached the DFB-Pokal final after failing in four previous semi-finals.
It is the first time since Union Berlin in 2001 that a third-division team is to play in the final.
VfB Stuttgart were to host RB Leipzig in the other semi-final after press time last night.
The final is scheduled for next month.
