Kingsley Coman scores extra-time winner in Berlin as Bayern Munich book DFB Cup quarter-final berth
Bayern Munich advanced to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup after a Kingsley Coman header gave them an extra-time victory over Hertha Berlin in the German capital.
Hertha Berlin 2-3 (AET) Bayern Munich
Goals: 1-0 Mittelstädt (3’), 1-1 Gnabry (7’), 1-2 Gnabry (49’), 2-2 Selke (67’) 2-3 Coman (98’)
With Arne Maier injured, Maximilian Mittelstädt earned a recall and made an immediate impact for the home side. Cutting to the edge of the penalty area onto Salomon Kalou’s well-weighted pass, he rifled low and hard with his right foot beyond Sven Ulreich – deputising for the injured Manuel Neuer – to give Hertha the perfect start. The lead only lasted four minutes, however, as Serge Gnabry smashed home on the half-volley to level after the ball broke to him on the right side of the box. Gnabry then tested Hertha keeper Rune Jarstein with two low, left-footed efforts later in the half, but Bayern found it difficult to break through again despite dominating possession.
The visitors didn’t take long to forge ahead after the restart, though, thanks to their best move of the match. Robert Lewandowski turned and found James Rodriguez, who put Germany attacker Gnabry through to slot past Jarstein. Bayern looked in total control, but substitute Davie Selke capitalised on some confusion in the visiting defence to get a Hertha equaliser out of the blue. James went close to getting Bayern back in front, but the home side forced extra-time.
Bayern continued to press in extra-time and struck again shortly after the hosts forced their very first corner of the game. Joshua Kimmich’s cross was only partially dealt with, and Lewandowski did brilliantly to hook the ball high over Jarstein from close range. Coman reacted quickest and out-jumped a clutch of scrambling Hertha defenders to nod home from a yard out. Hertha threw on centre-back Jordan Torunarigha as an extra presence in attack, but, fading physically, the Old Lady saw their cup hopes fade to nothing for another year.
Match stats
- Bayern are through to the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup for the 13th year in a row.
- Former Hoffenheim attacker Gnabry now has six goals in all competitions for Niko Kovac’s side – all of which have come since November.
- Kovac was coach of the Eintracht Frankfurt side that beat Bayern 3-1 in Berlin in last season’s final.
- Substitute Franck Ribery made his 410th appearance in all competitions for Bayern, drawing level with Lothar Matthäus. Only 13 players have clocked up more appearances for the record German champions.
- Bayern have won the DFB Cup a record 18 times.
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Line-ups
Hertha: Jarstein – Lazaro, Rekik, Stark, Plattenhardt – Grujic, Skjelbred (Lustenberger 103'), Mittelstädt – Duda (Torunarigha 110'), Kalou (Klünter 83') – Ibisevic (c) (Selke 64')
Unused subs: Köpke, Dárdai
Out: Kade, Luckassen (both ankle)
Coach: Pal Dardai
Bayern: Ulreich – Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba – Thiago, James (Martinez 119') – Goretzka - Coman (Müller 120'), Gnabry (Ribery 89') - Lewandowski (c)
Unused subs: Früchtl, Rafinha, Boateng, Davies
Out: Tolisso (knee), Robben (fitness), Neuer (hand)
Coach: Niko Kovac
As it happened!
FULL-TIME EXTRA TIME! HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Bayern advance to the quarter-finals! They had a huge amount of possession but found Hertha hard to shake off. Perhaps if they had held on to their early lead longer, the home side might have given the visitors more worries. Davie Selke gave them hope when he cancelled out Gnabry's second goal out of nothing, but Coman gave Bayern a deserved win against a very tired Hertha.
119' HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
James had a chance to seal the win but now he's been replaced by Javi Martinez as Bayern seek to shut the game down.
115' HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Ribery breaks and is fouled but Lewandowski's free-kick hits the wall. It's not looking good for the home side...
110' HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Torunarigha is on for Duda as Hertha make their final change. The centre-back is going to play as a striker here...
SECOND HALF EXTRA TIME! HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Hertha have had to chase the ball for long periods of the game and are looking very tired now. Can they somehow come back again?
HALF-TIME EXTRA TIME! HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Ribery tees up Hummels but he plants a sidefooted shot over the bar. Bayern in full control at the moment.
98' GOAL! HERTHA 2-3 BAYERN
Coman nods in from a yard out! That goal is all about Lewandowski though, who chased something of a lost cause and hooked the ball over the head of Jarstein. Coman then outjumped several scrambling Hertha defenders on the line. Surely Bayern won't this lead slip?
96' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
Hertha are sitting deep but holding firm.
SCHALKE STILL IN CONTROL
Salif Sane got a second goal for Schalke as they won 4-1 in the other late kick-off tonight. Now, who's going to win this one?
EXTRA-TIME! HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
The first half is underway...
FULL-TIME! HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
We're headed for extra-time! Bayern really should have won that game but Hertha have dug in to force another 30 minutes.
90+1' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
Bayern have had a huge number of corners in this game but Lewandowski can't get anything on target from the latest one.
89' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
A lot of pressure on Hertha and Franck Ribery has just come on for Gnabry. He makes a good first contribution, but Coman is unable to hook home at the far post.
87' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
Over 74,000 inside the ground. Will they see a grandstand finish?
83' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
Klünter is not long on the field, replacing Kalou, but gets another rare sight of goal for Hertha. He checks back on to his left foot after getting on the end of a long pass forward, but his left-footed strike is easy for Ulreich to deal with. James had almost nudged Bayern in front at the other end just before that.
SCHALKE STILL IN CONTROL
The Royal Blues now lead 3-1 in Gelsenkirchen. Mark Uth got Schalke's third before Rouwen Hennings pulled one back.
75' HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
James drives wide as Bayern try to get their back in front for a second time. He was just inside the area but dragged his shot narrowly wide under pressure from a couple of Hertha players.
67' GOAL! HERTHA 2-2 BAYERN
Selke levels! A goal out of nowhere as Hummels is caught out by the substitute.
64' HERTHA 1-2 BAYERN
First change for Hertha. Davie Selke comes on for fellow forward Vedad Ibisevic.
60' HERTHA 1-2 BAYERN
Gnabry almost finds Lewandowski in the middle but Jarstein gets there first. Hertha have also had to defend a couple of corners since the goal. The home side will eventually have to take a few more risks but - if and when they do - Gnabry and James look in the mood to take advantage of any extra space they're given.
SCHALKE INCREASE ADVANTAGE
In the other DFB Cup game ongoing, Salif Sane has put Schalke 2-0 up against Fortuna Düsseldorf early in the second half.
49' GOAL! HERTHA 1-2 BAYERN
Gnabry puts Bayern in front! Lovely build up from the visitors involving Süle, Lewandowski and James, with the Colombian setting Gnabry through on goal. The German attacker was cool as you like, slotting the ball into the corner.
SECOND HALF! HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
We're back underway. Can Bayern find a way through? And will Hertha improve?
HALF-TIME! HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Things calmed down considerably after that chaotic start, with Bayern having much the better of since the impressive Gnabry cancelled out Mittelstädt's opener for Hertha. The visitors, though, will be a little frustrated not to have got ahead before the break.
43' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Bayern suddenly looking a little more threatening but final balls from Thiago and Coman didn't quite find their man. James then blazes over from long range.
39' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
It's got a bit scrappy in Berlin, with Bayern forcing a few corners and free-kicks but struggling to create a clear opening.
SCHALKE LEAD!
In tonight's other late kick-off, 18-year-old Ahmed Kutucu has put Schalke in front in their home tie against fellow Bundesliga side Fortuna Düsseldorf.
32' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Bayern are enjoying the bulk of the ball but Hertha are looking a bit more solid than they were earlier in the half.
26' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Close! Another daisycutter with the left foot from Gnabry - this time from inside the D on the edge of the box - but Jarstein gets down well to his left to gather at the second attempt.
20' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Gnabry drives in off the right for Bayern, but his left-footed effort is touched behind by Jarstein.
16' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Mats Hummels tries his luck from distance and it deflects off his own teammate Lewandowski. Rune Jarstein was wrongfooted in the Hertha goal but the ball drifted wide.
13' HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Things have calmed down a bit after the frenetic start but Bayern are looking most likely to score again as it stands.
7' GOAL! HERTHA 1-1 BAYERN
Bayern back on track! Lewandowski can't get on the end of a right-wing cross but the ball breaks out to Serge Gnabry and he thumps it home first time from the right side of the area. What a start we're having!
3' GOAL! HERTHA 1-0 BAYERN
Mittelstädt comes in off the left and fires the home side into the lead from the edge of the area! His second goal of the season - drilled home right-footed - was a peach!
Bayern were unhappy that moments before Leon Goretzka was booked after going down in the Hertha penalty area.
KICK-OFF!
We're underway in Berlin.
LEIPZIG AND AUGSBURG PROGRESS
There are fewer than fifteen minutes to kick-off in this one, but two games have already finished this evening. Matheus Cunha's early goal was enough for Leipzig to make home advantage count against Wolfsburg, while Augsburg are also through to the quarter-finals.
In their match against second-tier outfit Holstein Kiel, Michael Gregoritsch scored the only goal with five minutes remaining.
KALOU IN FOR HERTHA
With Maier absent, the home side have been forced into a rethink. Per Skjelbred comes into midfield, while Maximilian Mittelstädt and Salomon Kalou also earn recalls.
HERTHA XI: Jarstein – Lazaro, Rekik, Stark, Plattenhardt – Grujic, Skjelbred, Mittelstädt – Duda, Kalou – Ibisevic (c). Subs: Klünter, Köpke, Dárdai, Torunarigha, Selke, Lustenberger.
NO NEUER BUT THIAGO STARTS
Bayern have named a strong team for tonight's game, although there is no place for the injured Manuel Neuer. Thiago has recovered from a knock, however, and he earns a place in the starting eleven along with Serge Gnabry.
Bayern say Neuer did travel with the team but boss Niko Kovac decided to take no risks with the goalkeeper.
BAYERN XI: Ulreich – Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba – Thiago, James – Goretzka - Coman, Gnabry - Lewandowski (c). Subs: Früchtl, Ribery, Martinez, Rafinha, Boateng, Davies, Müller.
LEIPZIG LEAD IN EARLY KICK-OFF
Two other last-16 ties are already underway. In the meeting of two top-flight sides, RB Leipzig have the half-time advantage against Wolfsburg thanks to Matheus Cunha's ninth-minute goal for the hosts. Augsburg are away to second-tier Holstein Kiel in the other early kick-off and that game is scoreless at the interval.
Later this evening Schalke are at home to Fortuna Düsseldorf in another all-Bundesliga clash.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY FOR DARDAI?
Four years ago on Tuesday, Pal Dardai was named as interim manager of Hertha. He has had considerable success since then, leading the club to a couple of top-half finishes in the Bundesliga and a return to the UEFA Europa League. Can the Hungarian mastermind another famous win over the German champions tonight?
NO MAIER FOR HERTHA
Hertha have been dealt a blow ahead of tonight's game with the news that Arne Maier will miss out due to injury. The Germany U21 midfielder has started 19 of the home side's 20 league games this season, but was forced off with an upper body injury during the 1-0 loss to Wolfsburg on Saturday.
The club have announced that the 20-year-old will also sit out Saturday's league match away to Borussia Mönchengladbach.
BAYERN ON COMEBACK TRAIL
Bayern will not only have the last match against Hertha on their minds, but they are also looking to bounce back from the 3-1 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
The visitors, however, have an excellent record in this competition. They have reached the quarter-finals in each of the last 12 years, but were beaten in Berlin by Eintracht Frankfurt in last season's final.
"We lost the away game there this season and obviously want to make amends for that," Bayern boss Niko Kovac - who won the DFB Cup with Eintracht last season - said ahead of tonight's rematch with Hertha. "It’ll be a hard battle - hopefully with a happy ending for us.”
MORE JOY FOR HERTHA?
The capital club enjoyed a superb 2-0 win over Bayern in their Bundesliga meeting in Berlin earlier in the season. Ondrej Duda and Vedad Ibisevic - who are both in contention to start tonight- scored the goals to earn Hertha the victory. The result meant that Bayern have not enjoyed a victory against Hertha in their last four meetings in the Bundesliga.
WELCOME!
Hello and welcome to our coverage of tonight's DFB Cup Round of 16 clash between Bundesliga sides Hertha Berlin and Bayern Munich at the Olympiastadion in the German capital.
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