BERLIN: Holders Stuttgart won a dramatic 8-7 penalty shoot-out in the first round of the German Cup on Tuesday after twice having to come from behind against second tier Braunschweig in a chaotic 4-4 draw.
Lorenz Assignon scored the decisive spot kick after Stuttgart goalie Alexander Nuebel saved three times in the shoot-out, keeping the struggling title holders in the competition.
Stuttgart have stumbled into this season, losing the German Super Cup 2-1 at home against Bayern Munich before going down by the same scoreline at Union Berlin in their league opener.
Stuttgart were down after just eight minutes when Sven Koehler opened the scoring with a long-range effort, but drew level just three minutes later when Ermedin Demirovic scored his first.
Demirovic looked to have Stuttgart on track when he scored another with 60 minutes played, but Braunschweig’s Fabio Di Michele Sanchez scored in the 77th and 85th minutes to grab hold of the game.
Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade levelled things up in the final minute of regulation time, taking the game into extra-time. Both sides scored in extra time, with Sanoussy Ba’s own goal giving Stuttgart the advantage before Christian Joe Conteh tied it up at 4-4 to send the match to penalties.
Both sides missed twice in the opening set of five penalties but then matched each other before Nuebel leapt to his left, saving Lukas Frenkert’s shot.
Assignon converted, sending the four-time winners into the next round of the competition.
German Cup holders Stuttgart beat Braunschweig on penalties
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German Cup holders Stuttgart beat Braunschweig on penalties
Alcaraz and Sabalenka set sights on Australian Open fourth round
- Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two
- Top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka return to the Australian Open battlefield on Friday with fourth round berths at stake, joined in the fight by third seeds Coco Gauff and Alexander Zverev.
Spanish world number one Alcaraz came through a tough three-set arm-wrestle in round two and faces another tricky encounter against French 32nd seed Corentin Moutet.
The 22-year-old has again been handed an afternoon match on Rod Laver Arena, once more following Sabalenka on to Melbourne Park’s center court.
The Belarusian top seed Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, faces Russia-born Austrian Anastasia Potapova to kick-off day six where temperatures are forecast to soar.
Alcaraz, who is bidding for a career Grand Slam of all four majors, said his testing 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 victory over Yannick Hanfmann in round two served him well.
“I’m still getting used to the conditions, getting used to playing better,” said the six-time Grand Slam winner.
“Just happy that I’m just improving every day after every match. So hopefully being better in the next round.”
Alcaraz has never gone past the quarter-finals in his four trips to Australia.
Should he beat Moutet, he will meet either American 19th seed Tommy Paul or Spanish 14th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina to make the last eight once again.
Sabalenka, as the overwhelming favorite, was upset by Madison Keys in last year’s final but insists revenge is not her motivation.
“I look at each match as a new match, new opportunity. I have also been working really hard,” she said.
“For me, it doesn’t matter what was in the past. For me, it’s the new match.”
Like Sabalenka, Gauff has been impressive so far, saying she was “near perfect” in making the third round.
She faces fellow American Hailey Baptiste, ranked 70, on Margaret Court Arena.
World number three Gauff takes to the court after Russia’s three-time runner-up Daniil Medvedev, who lines up against Hungary’s Fabian Marozan.
Last year’s beaten finalist Zverev has dropped a set in both his opening two matches and will have a tough encounter in an evening clash on John Cain Arena against British 26th seed Cameron Norrie.
Women’s seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and men’s 10th seed Alexander Bublik are also in action.
Home hope and sixth seed Alex De Minaur has again been awarded the night match on center court, this time against dangerous American Frances Tiafoe.
Eighth seed Mirra Andreeva rounds out the day’s action on Rod Laver Arena in a clash with Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
