German Cup: St. Pauli Knock Defending Champions Borussia Dortmund Out

An early goal from Etienne Amenyido, an Axel Witsel own goal and resolute defending from the home team ensured Dortmund joined Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich as an early casualty.

Updated on: 19 January 2022 8:40 am

Borussia Dortmund and ST. Pauli players after the end of their German Cup match.

Second-division leader St. Pauli knocked defending champion Borussia Dortmund out of the German Cup with a 2-1 win in their third-round game. (More Football News)

An early goal from Etienne Amenyido, an Axel Witsel own goal and resolute defending from the home team ensured Dortmund joined Bavarian powerhouse Bayern Munich as an early casualty in a competition that both were targeting to win.

Bayern was knocked out with a 5-0 loss at Borussia Mönchengladbach in the second round. Dortmund won last season's final in May with a 4-1 win over Leipzig.

St. Pauli got off to a flying start with Amenyido opening the scoring in the fourth minute.

Dortmund pushed hard for an equalizer but was caught out again five minutes before the break when Witsel deflected Guido Burgstaller's cross for the lurking Amenyido inside his own goal.

Erling Haaland pulled one back with a penalty early in the second half after Jakov Medic was penalized through VAR for handball.

St. Pauli's defense held firm as Dortmund lacked a cutting edge despite its attacking firepower. Dortmund coach Marco Rose sent on 17-year-old forward Youssoufa Moukoko for three minutes of injury time, but it was Moukoko's former club that progressed.

Only 2,000 fans were allowed in the 29,546-capacity Millerntor Stadium due to coronavirus restrictions. There was a big reception for the home team outside with flares and fireworks to show encouragement, and those allowed inside did their best to compensate for those absent.

Earlier, Hamburger SV reached the quarterfinals thanks to an unfortunate penalty kick from Cologne midfielder Florian Kainz in their shootout.

Kainz had to score with Cologne's fifth penalty to keep his team in the game, but the Austrian slipped as he took it and his right-footed shot came off his left boot before looping in over Hamburg 'keeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes.

Referee Daniel Schlager ruled the score was irregular and ended the game with Hamburg winning the shootout 4-3.

Cologne striker Anthony Modeste's penalty in injury time of extras time had sent the game to penalties.

Also, Bochum defeated Bundesliga rival Mainz, and Karlsruher SC defeated third-division 1860 Munich 1-0 away.

Gladbach visits second-division Hannover on Wednesday, when Hertha Berlin hosts Union Berlin for a derby.