Bayern dumped out by Aachen
(sportinglife.com)
Updated: 2004-02-05 09:54

Second division side Alemannia Aachen created the shock of the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals by dumping the defending champions Bayern Munich out of Germany's leading cup competition.

Bayern Munich's Samuel Kuffour (L) hugs Oliver Kahn (R) during a German Cup quarter-final match against Alemannia Aachen in Aachen February 4, 2004. Aachen won the match 2-1 and reaches the half final of the German Soccer Cup. [Reuters]

Aachen were good value for their 2-1 win in front of a sell-out 20,400 fans at the Tivoli stadium and had former Liverpool striker Erik Meijer to thank for the winning goal 10 minutes from time.

Stefan Blank gave the home side a deserved lead in the 34th minute with a long-range effort which caught Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn off-balance.

Aachen had been asking all the questions of a Bayern defence which lacked organisation throughout the first half.

Cristian Fiel forced a sensational save out of Germany's number one shot-stopper having found a gaping hole in the Bayern backline before Blank gave Aachen a deserved lead.

However, Bayern punished the hosts for their failure to convert more than one of their many chances when Michael Ballack headed the equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

Bayern came back into the game in the second 45 minutes and went close through Owen Hargreaves and Roy Makaay before Aachen grabbed a goal on the break through Meijer.

The much-travelled striker finished off good work from another Bundesliga veteran, Bachirou Salou, to head the home side back in front with only 10 minutes remaining.

Despite throwing men forward for the last 10 minutes, Aachen held on to secure the memorable victory which puts them into the hat alongside Werder Bremen, Borussia Moenchengladbach and VfL Lubeck for the semi-final draw.

Bayern trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld was stunned by the result and the performances of his players.

"We were unable to keep up with the pace of the game and there were too many errors in defence," said Hitzfeld.

"The players are sitting silently in the dressing room, they know they've disgraced themselves."

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