Leverkusen stunned 2-1 by second-tier Karlsruhe in German Cup

Berlin (dpa) – Bayer Leverkusen suffered another setback on Wednesday when they crashed out of the German Cup with a 2-1 home defeat against second-division Karlsruhe.

The visitors had a dream start from Lucas Cueto’s fifth-minute tap-in.

Leverkusen, who won the cup in 1993 and were finalists last year, levelled in the 54th when Jeremie Frimpong fired into the top left corner.

But a howler eight minutes later from goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky gifted Karlsruhe their second when he played the ball to Choi Kyoung Rok who calmly slotted home.

Iker Bravo almost grabbed another equalizer shortly after coming on as the youngest-ever Leverkusen player but the 16-year-old aimed high with the goal wide open.

It was the third bad day for Leverkusen in a row after conceding four goals in seven minutes in a 5-1 Bundesliga home defeat against champions Bayern Munich and then blowing a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 derby draw with Cologne.

“There is a lot of diasppointment. This is difficult to get over,” Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah said while coach Gerardo Seoane urged the team “to pick ourselves up quickly.”

Elsewhere, VfL Bochum beat Augsburg 5-4 on penalties after squandering a 2-0 lead in regulation in a 2-2 scoreline after 120 minutes. Goalkeeper Manuel Riemann, who had come on for the shoot-out, sent Bochum through after Arne Maier had fired Augsburg’s fifth spot kick over the bar.

Union Berlin came from behind to win 3-1 at third-division Waldhof Mannheim from extra-time goals by Taino Awoniyi and Kevin Behrens and St Pauli Hamburg also needed 120 minutes to win 3-2 at Dynamo Dresden.

Four further games were scheduled later Wednesday, including Borussia Moenchengladbach v record winners Bayern Munich.

The first eight teams reached the third round scheduled for mid-January on Tuesday, including defending champions Borussia Dortmund and beaten finalists RB Leipzig.