Bayern reach German Cup semifinals

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP):

Bayern Munich stayed on course for a domestic double with a 1-0 win over Schalke in the German Cup yesterday, while little-known Saarbrucken became the first fourth-tier club to reach the semifinals.

Bayern have won five of the last 10 editions of the cup, and lived up to their reputation as Joshua Kimmich scored the winning goal against Schalke in their quarter final.

For Saarbrucken it was all about grit and goalkeeping in a penalty shoot-out win over Bundesliga club Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Saarbrucken goalkeeper Daniel Batz saved four of the 10 penalties he faced in the shoot-out – after also stopping one in the second half – as all players except the goalkeepers had to take a spot kick before the deadlock was broken.

The game finished 1-1 after extra time before the hosts won 7-6 on penalties. Fortuna’s Mathias “Zanka” Jorgensen scored a 90th-minute equaliser to force extra time but missed the decisive spot kick in the shoot-out.

Bayern made it five straight wins in all competitions, while Schalke have not scored in any of their last four games.

Schalke frustrated Bayern in defence but created little in attack, and the game was decided by a moment of skill from Kimmich. Floating on the edge of the box at a corner, Kimmich tracked a deflected ball and hammered a volley low into the far bottom corner in the 40th minute.

Excellent chance missed

Schalke had an excellent chance to score on the counter in the 65th but Benito Raman poked the ball at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from almost point-blank range.

Markus Schubert replaced usual starter Alexander Nubel in Schalke’s goal. Nubel has agreed to join Bayern at the end of the season.

The semifinal matches will be drawn at a later date.