Nurnberg through to DFB-Pokal last 8 after beating Dusseldorf on penalties

Bochum, Germany, Feb 8, 2023 (AFP) - Nurnberg qualified for the German Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday by beating Fortuna Dusseldorf on penalties after scoring an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

Visitors Dusseldorf took the lead in the 33rd minute through Dawid Kownacki and looked in complete control of the tie, only for Nurnberg's Taylan Duman to score in the 93rd minute to force the game into extra time.

Dusseldorf striker Jona Niemiec had his side's fourth penalty saved by Nurnberg goalkeeper Peter Vindahl.

Home forward Erik Shuranov stepped up to score the decisive kick, sending his side through as the only second-division club to reach the last eight with a 5-3 shootout victory.

Dusseldorf scored from their first chance, Kownacki heading in a cross from Emmanuel Iyoha.

Nurnberg came close to equalising in the final stages of the first half after a poor pass from Dusseldorf defender Jan Gyamerah, but Vindahl averted the danger just before an advancing Rouwen Hennings could arrive.

The visitors almost made it 2-0 in the 69th minute through Kownacki, but Vindahl made a fingertip save.

Nurnberg took advantage late on through midfielder Duman, whose shot was deflected into the goal by Austrian defender Christoph Klarer.

The matchup was the only last-16 fixture featuring just teams from the second division, meaning a Bundesliga 2 side was guaranteed to make it through to the quarter-finals.

Only five teams -- Bayern Munich, Werder Bremen, Schalke, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt -- have won more German Cup titles than Nuremberg's four.

Later on Wednesday, five-time winners Dortmund travel to neighbouring Bochum for the final last-16 tie.

The winners will join Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Freiburg, Stuttgart, Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Bayern in Sunday's last-eight draw.