Leverkusen stages two-goal comeback to beat Cologne 3-2 in German Cup

Leverkusen stages two-goal comeback to beat Cologne 3-2 in German Cup

Defending champion Bayer Leverkusen came from two goals down and scored a last-gasp equaliser before snatching a 3-2 extra-time win over second division club Cologne on Wednesday to reach the German Cup semifinals.

Victor Boniface volleyed in the winner in the 98th minute after fellow Leverkusen forward Patrik Schick, who had cut the deficit in the 61st, headed in deep in second-half stoppage time to force extra time in a pulsating encounter.

“I am satisfied to have reached the semifinal,” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, whose team has now won a club record 10 consecutive German Cup matches.

Leverkusen, which is in second place in the Bundesliga, has also qualified for the Champions League Round of 16.

“It was a very tough game against a very good opponent. But we showed a good reaction,” Alonso told a press conference. “It was maybe not our best game but we played with a big heart. We fought until the last minute to reach this stage.”

Alejandro Grimaldo had hit the crossbar with a free kick on the half-hour mark with Leverkusen, which went unbeaten as it won the domestic league and Cup double last season, upping the tempo in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

But it was its local Rhine derby rival which scored through Damion Downs with the last kick before the break.

Cologne then silenced the Leverkusen crowd with a second goal nine minutes after the restart as Linton Maina completed a quick break.

Leverkusen hit back through Schick before the Czech headed in at the far post to send the match into extra time.

Nigeria international Boniface then slipped into the box and volleyed in a Grimaldo cross to give Leverkusen the lead.

Cologne thought it had levelled in the 112th minute through Imad Rondic but his effort was ruled offside