Third-Division Arminia Bielefeld continued their remarkable German Cup run on Tuesday, knocking out Bundesliga side Werder Bremen with a 2-1 victory to secure a spot in the semifinals.
The home crowd at the Bielefelder Alm erupted when Sam Schreck found the net deep into stoppage time on a counterattack, seemingly sealing a third goal.
However, VAR intervened and disallowed the goal due to a foul in the buildup.
The disappointment was short-lived, as the final whistle soon confirmed Bielefeld’s latest upset—its third against a Bundesliga team in this tournament.
Bielefeld, which had already ousted second-division Hannover before dispatching Union Berlin and Freiburg, is making a dream run despite its recent double relegation from the Bundesliga to the third tier.
“Incredible. Indescribable. I don’t think any of us have realized it yet,” said goalkeeper Jonas Kersken, reflecting on the team’s achievement.
For Bremen, the night added to their recent woes. Already reeling from three consecutive Bundesliga defeats, including a crushing 5-0 loss to Freiburg, their struggles deepened when forward Marvin Ducksch limped off early with an apparent hamstring issue.
Things unraveled quickly after that. Bielefeld’s Marius Wörl pounced on a misplaced touch from Bremen’s Julián Malatini, took a few steps inside, and unleashed a stunning strike that curled in off the far post.
The situation worsened for Malatini just six minutes later when he inadvertently turned Stefano Russo’s cross into his own net.
At halftime, Bremen coach Ole Werner introduced Leonardo Bittencourt and Oliver Burke in a desperate attempt to turn the tide.
The move briefly paid off, as Bittencourt set up Burke for a well-taken goal in the 56th minute. But despite their efforts, Bremen couldn’t break through again.
Bielefeld now joins reigning champions Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart in the semifinals, with RB Leipzig and Wolfsburg set to battle for the last remaining spot on Wednesday.
