News (engl.)

Bayer Leverkusen are the first team through to the DFB-Pokal semi-finals. The Werkself beat fellow Bundesliga side FC St. Pauli 3-0 at home in the quarter-finals on Tuesday evening. Goals from Martin Terrier (32’), Patrik Schick (63’) and Jonas Hofmann (90’+2) sent Bayer 04 into the final four for the third season in a row and for the twelfth time overall.

After an intense opening without any clear-cut chances, Schick had the first big opportunity when St. Pauli goalkeeper Ben Voll played a stray pass in build-up. Karol Mets managed to clear the striker’s effort off the line though (16’). The Hamburg club threatened for the first time soon after, but Joel Fujita dragged his effort wide from around 14 yards despite having space to pick out his spot (23’).

The breakthrough came at the other end. Schick was halted as he tried to dribble along the edge of the box, but Terrier pounced on the loose ball and guided a 16-yard strike precisely inside the post. St. Pauli went looking for a response and came close to levelling in the 40th minute, only for Martijn Kaars to lift Arkadiusz Pyrka’s dangerous delivery over the bar from about five yards.

Schick and Hofmann put it beyond doubt

St. Pauli continued to attack with confidence after the break, while the hosts looked to keep control and go in search of a second. Leverkusen got it through Schick, who met a long cross from Aleix Garcia at the far post and volleyed home from around four yards.

The visitors kept pushing, but Danel Sinani also fired over from the edge of the box after good work from Tomoya Ando (70’). Hofmann, on as a substitute, almost made it three at the other end after winning the ball near the opposition area, but he could only clip the outside of the post (75’). Deep into stoppage time, though, he did add the third to put the icing on the cake.