LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — In a dominant performance, Bayer Leverkusen, the reigning DFB Cup champions, marched into the third round with a convincing 3-0 victory over second-tier Elversberg. At the same time, RB Leipzig survived a valiant comeback attempt from St. Pauli and secured their place in the next round of the competition.
Patrik Schick was the star of the show for Leverkusen, scoring twice in the first nine minutes, showcasing his clinical finishing ability. Aleix Garcia, who moved to Leverkusen from Girona this season, capped his solid performance with a stunning free-kick goal, marking his first goal in Leverkusen colours.
Leipzig faced a more difficult challenge, but won the duel with a 4-2 win against St. Pauli. Having already led 3-1 in the 30th minute, they appeared to be in control until St. Pauli’s Eric Smith scored with a well-placed lob in the 58th minute, raising hopes of a comeback. But 19-year-old Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa dashed those dreams by dribbling through the defense and scoring Leipzig’s fourth goal, sealing their place in the next round.
Augsburg also turned heads by beating second division side Schalke 3-0 to secure a place in the third round for the first time since the 2018-19 season. The underdogs Kickers Offenbach from the fourth league, however, had to admit defeat 0-2 against second-tier Karlsruhe and were therefore eliminated from the tournament.
Later on Tuesday, Borussia Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin faces increasing pressure as his team attempts to end a disastrous away streak that has included four straight defeats. Dortmund will be tested against a resilient Wolfsburg, while Stuttgart face Kaiserslautern in another exciting clash.
Stay tuned to AP Soccer for all the latest DFB Cup information and more: AP Soccer.
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