Leverkusen and Frankfurt join Bayern, Saarbruecken in cup semis

Berlin

Eintracht Frankfurt defeated ailing Werder Bremen 2-0 and Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to beat Union Berlin 3-1 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the German Cup.They join holders Bayern Munich and fourth-tier Saarbruecken in Sunday's last-four draw, Deutsche Press Agency (dpa) reported.

In Leverkusen, the home side benefited from the dismissal of Union defender Christopher Lenz, with Karim Bellarabi almost immediately equalizing and Charles Aranguiz heading them ahead before Moussa Diaby wrapped up victory.

Union led from a Marcus Ingvartsen header in the 39th minute and looked comfortable until Lenz was dismissed in the 71st minute following a second yellow card for bringing down Aranguiz on the edge of the area.

Bellarabi had come off the substitutes' bench two minutes earlier and levelled in the 72nd with a shot in off the post.

Aranguiz headed the home side ahead five minutes from time before Diaby on the break finished in stoppage time as Leverkusen chalked up an eighth competitive game without defeat - a run including seven wins - in their bid for a first title since winning the cup in 1993.

"Union did well. We were very sluggish in the first half and luckily did a lot better in the second half," Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes told Sport1.

Part of the first half was played in silence when fans responded to a medical emergency and stopped chanting after a spectator had been taken ill.

Leverkusen said via Twitter a spectator was successfully reanimated and taken to hospital where his condition was thought to be stable.

In Frankfurt, fans raised banners protesting against the German football federation DFB and the league DFL in a continuing stand-off with football authorities.

However, as with the previous day's quarter-final match between Schalke and Bayern Munich, there was no abuse of Hoffenheim investor Dietmar Hopp which had marred recent games including Saturday's Bundesliga match between Hoffenheim and Bayern.

Frankfurt, the 2018 cup winners, piled on Werder Bremen's woes with a penalty from Andre Silva just before half-time and a second from Daichi Kamada on the hour to book their semi-final place.

Bremen also had defender Oemer Toprak stretchered off in the final minute after a bad tackle from behind by Filip Kostic, who was shown a red card.

Toprak, 30, has a suspected fractured leg, Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt said.

"This is severe blow for us," he told Sky TV, adding that Kostic was himself "shocked."

Frankfurt's penalty was awarded following a video review after the ball hit the hand of Ludwig Augustinsson, whose arm was up as he challenged Timothy Chandler in an aeriel duel for the ball.

Kohfeldt was shown a yellow card for his reaction to the decison, and Augustinsson told broadcaster ARD there was little he could do as he was behind Chandler as he challenged for the header.

"I went up for the ball. He (Chandler) is bigger. I am very disappointed about this situation. I am not a fan of VAR," he said.

Kohfeldt said of the video review there had been "a forensic search for a mistake of some sort."

He added: "I would rather see real football. But I have no chance. I will be seen as a moaner who cannot accept a defeat. I have to accept the decision."

The two sides were due to have played in the league on Sunday but the match was postponed after Frankfurt's Europa League game at Salzburg was put back a day, a decision Bremen did not agree with.

Bremen, who have lost six of their last seven games, and beleaguered coach Kohfeldt must now turn his attention to a key visit to 14th-placed Hertha Berlin in the Bundesliga on Saturday.