Bayern Munich Wins 9-Goal Thriller vs. Heidenheim to Reach DFB Cup Semifinals
BERLIN (AP) – Robert Lewandowski came off the bench to help Bayern Munich avoid a massive upset in the German Cup quarterfinals, scoring late to secure a 5-4 victory over second-division Heidenheim on Wednesday after the Bavarian club had squandered a two-goal lead.
Lewandowski was described by Bayern as ''sickish'' before the game but came on after the halftime break to score two goals and set up another in a topsy-turvy match that saw Bayern reduced to 10 men after 15 minutes and give up two goals in a three-minute span as Heidenheim fought back to make it 4-4.
It had looked more likely to be a routine home win when Leon Goretzka gave Bayern the lead in 12th minute.
But Niklas Sule was sent off just afterward after bringing down Robert Andrich in front of the penalty area when the Heidenheim midfielder was through on goal.
Heidenheim captain Marc Schnatterer, who had already hit the crossbar, crossed for the Munich-born Robert Glatzel to head in the equalizer in the 27th and then stunned the home fans when he fired inside the far post to grab a shock lead in the 39th.
Lewandowski's condition improved enough for coach Niko Kovac to bring him on for the second half and it paid off almost straight away with the forward set up Thomas Muller to equalize in the 53rd, two minutes before he put Bayern back in front.
Serge Gnabry thought he'd extinguished the visitors' hopes of an upset in the 66th, but Glatzel scored twice within three minutes - the second a penalty - to draw Heidenheim level again in the 77th.
Gnabry twice hit the crossbar before Lewandowski finally sealed it with a penalty in the 84th.
Schalke hosts Werder Bremen for the last quarterfinal later Wednesday.
