MUNICH: Freiburg stunned favourites Bayern Munich 2-1 in their DFB-Pokal quarter-final on Tuesday thanks to a second-half stoppage-time penalty from Lucas Hoeler.

In a shock defeat for the Bundesliga leaders, in coach Thomas Tuchel’s second game in charge, Hoeler sent keeper Yann Sommer the wrong way to book their spot in the last four.

“(We’re) sitting here now with broken shards of something, for this year it’s over again in the German Cup,” said a “disillusioned and brutally disappointed” Thomas Muller who scored two goals against Dortmund.“Now we’ve emotionally come back down to earth — or a bit further down.”

Bayern, fresh from Saturday’s 4-2 league win over title rivals Borussia Dort­mund, took a 19th-minute lead when Dayot Upamecano rose high to power in his header from a Joshua Kimmich corner.

But Freiburg kept finding ways to attack and an unstoppable 20-metre missile from Nicolas Hoefler drew them level.

Bayern, who face Manchester City in the Champions League last eight next week, kept Freiburg keeper Mark Flekken busy but not Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting nor Mueller and Leroy Sane could score.

With Tuchel growing impatient on the sidelines, his team upped the pressure but it was Freiburg who scored after Jamal Musiala’s hand ball in the box.

Hoeler stepped up to end the hosts’ run in the Cup with his last-gasp spot kick.

“I am delighted with this result,” said Freiburg coach Christian Streich. “We needed a bit of luck as well but we worked hard. The lads defended really well. It was a passionate performance and then you need such a moment to win it.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a quick-fire double from France striker Randal Kolo Muani sent Eintracht Frankfurt through to the semi-finals with a 2-0 home win over Union Berlin.

Kolo Muani scored two goals in two minutes early in the first half, both assisted by Mario Goetze, and Frankfurt held on despite a late Union assault.

The win kept the Europa League holders on track for what would be a sixth German Cup win, and a first since 2018.Frankfurt, winless in seven in all competitions, started stronger and were 2-0 up in the blink of an eye thanks to Kolo Muani.

He scored his first in the 11th minute, latching onto a Goetze back-heel and blasting past Union goalkeeper Lennart Grill.

Kolo Muani soon doubled the home side’s lead, lifting the ball over an out-of-position Grill and into the net.

Published in Dawn, April 6th, 2023