BERLIN: Hamburg narrowly avoided an embarrassing first round German Cup exit at fifth-tier Pirmasens on Saturday, coming back to win 2-1 in extra time.

Trailing to the semi-professional side after a 52nd-minute goal from Yannick Griess, Hamburg drew level in stoppage time when Guilherme Ramos headed in from a corner.

In extra time, Ransford-Yeb­oah Koenigsdoerffer scored on the 100-minute mark to put the 1983 European Cup winners in front.

Six-time German champions Hamburg returned to the top flight this season after seven years in the second division, following a first ever relegation in 2018.

Fellow Hamburg-based side St Pauli needed a penalty shootout to move past neighbours Eintracht Norderstedt when the match finished scoreless after extra time.

Later on Saturday, 2022 and 2023 winners RB Leipzig twice came from behind to win 4-2 at fourth-tier Sandhausen.

With the scores locked at 2-2, new Leipzig signing Ezechiel Banzuzi scored with 79 minutes played to take the lead, before Xavi Simons sealed the result with an injury time goal.

The 2015 winners VfL Wolfsburg hammered fifth-tier Hemelingen 9-0, while fellow first division sides Freiburg, Heidenheim and Hoffenheim also made it through their opening ties.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2025