Bayern ends Wolfsburg's German Cup defense in second round
BERLIN (AP) — Thomas Mueller scored two and set up another as Bayern Munich knocked holder Wolfsburg out in the second round of the German Cup with a 3-1 away win on Tuesday.
Douglas Costa opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he took the ball from Mueller, left Wolfsburg midfielder and Brazilian teammate Luiz Gustavo standing, before hammering a thunderous shot into the top corner from distance.
David Alaba set up Mueller for his first five minutes later and then again in the 34th, when he picked the unmarked Germany star out with a fine cross that he rifled in with a volley.
"It was a very good game from us in the first half, an outstanding positional game," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said. "It's simply fun to play football like that. It's hard to play against us at the moment."
Wolfsburg improved after the break, when Bayern appeared to let its intensity drop a level.
Bayern coach Pep Guardiola brought Arjen Robben on for the impressive Kingsley Coman in the 67th, and the Dutch winger went close with a header two minutes later.
Wolfsburg substitute Andre Schuerrle fired inside the far post for his side's consolation in the final minute.
It was Bayern's 13th win from 14 competitive games this season. The Bavarian powerhouse, which opened its cup campaign with a 5-1 win over fifth-tier Noettingen, is perfect in the German league with 10 wins from 10 games.
Bundesliga rivals Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz were knocked out by lower-tier opposition.
Max Wegner's 74th-minute strike was enough for third-division Erzgebirge Aue's 1-0 home victory over Frankfurt, while Mainz lost 2-1 at home to second-tier 1860 Munich after having a player sent off.
"Aue weren't so good, we were so bad," Frankfurt midfielder Stefan Aigner said.
Mainz went ahead in the sixth minute when Danny Latza's free kick was deflected into the wrong net by Christopher Schindler, but the visitors were given a lifeline before the break when last defender Pierre Bengtsson was sent off for an adjudged foul on Krisztian Simon.
Stefan Mugosa equalized in the 70th and substitute Rubin Okotie sealed 1860's win seven minutes later.
"Munich shot at our goal twice and twice was the ball in," Mainz coach Martin Schmidt said.
Darmstadt defeated league rival Hannover 2-1 at home.
Aytac Sulu fired the promoted Bundesliga side ahead in the 74th, only for Artur Sobiech to equalize a minute later, four minutes before Sandro Wagner claimed Darmstadt's winner.
Hertha Berlin needed an extra time-penalty from Salomon Kalou to overcome second-division FSV Frankfurt 2-1 away.
It was Kalou's second after the Ivory Coast forward cancelled out Timm Golley's 47th-minute opener for the home side with a header in the 56th.
Hertha defender Marvin Plattenhardt was sent off with two bookings in extra time.
"I'm happy that we're through, especially when you see how many Bundesliga sides were kicked out today," Hertha defender Sebastian Langkamp said.
Fourth-tier Unterhaching embarrassed second-division Leipzig 3-0, Nuremberg routed second-division rival Fortuna Duesseldorf 5-1 at home, and Bochum overcame second-tier rival Kaiserslautern 1-0 with an own goal from Chris Loewe.
