Borussia Dortmund have reached the last 16 of the DFB Cup after beating Union Berlin 3-0 on penalties. Roman Weidenfeller provided the heroics in the shootout, saving two spot-kicks after normal time and extra-time had ended with the score locked at 1-1.

The 79,037 spectators in a below-capacity Signal Iduna Park saw BVB take the lead thanks to an own goal by former Black and Yellow Michael Parensen (44). The hosts were overly passive after the interval and were punished when Steven Skrzybski restored parity (81). Then, in extra-time, Ginter (96) and Castro (113) had chances to seal the victory but both missed and the tie was ultimately decided on penalties.

Weidenfeller stands strong in front of South Stand, Hosiner hits the woodwork

Dembélé comfortably put the hosts 1-0 up before Weidenfeller made a strong save to deny Kroos. Ginter then coolly dispatched his spot-kick to make it 2-0, as BVB's custodian thwarted Fürstner. When Götze made it 3-0, the shootout was all-but over. Union's Hosiner subsequently missed the final penalty, thumping the ball against the crossbar.

The scenario
The Black and Yellows' role as favourites against the 2. Bundesliga's second-placed side was not quite as pronounced as it might have been under normal circumstances due to the current injury crisis. Union had beaten MSV Duisburg 2-1 after extra-time in their DFB First Round clash. In addition, the capital club had won six of their last seven matches and brought 10,000 travelling fans on what was the "biggest away day in the club's history". "Whatever the line-up or formation, we feel we're a match for anyone and that we're capable of winning," BVB head coach Thomas Tuchel said before the clash.

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Dane Jacob Bruun Larsen made his first-team debut and played a part in BVB's 44th minute opener.

Personnel matters
Tuchel made six changes to the team that drew 3-3 in Ingolstadt, bringing in Sokratis, Passlack, Bruun Larsen, Sahin, Mor and Götze to replace Bartra (adductor), Aubameyang (calf), Park, Dembelé, Weigl and Kagawa. The match marked 18-year-old Jacob Bruun Larsen's first-team debut. The Dane has been at the club since January 2015, becoming an U17 and U19 German champion in 2015 and 2016. He then represented Denmark at the 2016 Olympic Games, playing in all four games until the Scandinavian nation were eliminated by Nigeria at the quarter-final stage. Other absentees included Pulisic (ill), Guerreiro (fibre tear), Bender (bone marrow oedema), Schmelzer (muscle fibre tear), Schürrle (medial collateral ligament), Reus, Subotic (both in fitness training) and Durm (knee operation).

Tactics
Borussia lined up in their usual 4-1-4-1 with Sahin as the central defensive midfielder, while Larsen and Mor occupied the two wing berths. Much of BVB's play came via Götze and Mor down the left-hand side. Union looked to switch the play at speed. The men from Berlin – in a defensive-minded 4-4-2 formation – switched the play lightning-quick after winning possession and tried to feed the ball directly to their pacey wingers.

The match & analysis
Kick-off in this Cup clash was delayed by 15 minutes due to an attempt by fans of Union Berlin to storm the entrance at the North Stand. The police were forced to intervene and entrance was halted. As a considerable number of fans had not yet taken their place in the stadium, kick-off was delayed until 21:00 CET.

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Felix Passlack was included in the starting XI against Union Berlin.

The Black and Yellows may have been disappointing in the opening half in Ingolstadt, but they were ready from the off tonight, registering 11 shots on goal, 75 percent possession, a pass completion rate of 89 percent and a tackle win rate of 57 percent – attesting to their dominance in the direct duels – in the first 45 minutes.

They were therefore well worth their 1-0 lead at the interval, even if the goal itself was somewhat fortunate. Castro had driven forward and found Götze, who in turn fed the unmarked Bruun Larsen on the right flank with an outstanding pass. The Danish youngster's cross-cum-shot hit Union's Michael Parensen – a Dortmund player himself between 2002 and 2007 – and was deflected past the hapless Daniel Mesenhöler for the opener (44).

For the capital club, whose top-scorer Collin Quaner had been substituted off through injury in the 39th minute, falling behind on the stroke of half-time was unlucky – but they could hardly complain. Though they held their own and defended well, they had few opportunities of note in attack. The hosts, on the other hand, had already had three gilt-edged chances by this point: Götze's shot was deflected away by Leistner (18), Mesenhöler then made a spectacular save to deny the World Cup winner (38) and Sahin's long-range effort was also dealt with by the 21-year-old (42).

BVB take foot off the gas in second half

After the interval BVB slowed the pace down and although they controlled the game, they lacked any penetration in attack and only had three shots up until the 80th minute. Union really threatened for the first time through Zejnullahu in the 53rd minute, but the German-Kosovan's shot sailed wide of the post.

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Nuri Sahin played for the first time this season.

However, BVB were punished for their passivity with ten minutes left on the clock. Following a corner the ball broke to substitute Skrzybski – a Schalke supporter –who thundered home from a centre-right position 20 metres out to make it 1-1 (81). By this point, Dembélé (67) and Weigl (68) had entered the fray in place of Bruun Larsen and Sahin.

The goal prompted an immediate reaction as BVB upped the ante, with Mor's shot from a narrow angle following build-up from Ramos forcing Mesenhöler into a save (86). In the closing stages it was end to end stuff, with Union sensing their chance and having an equal share of the play. Hosiner (88) struck a bicycle kick narrowly wide of the BVB goal. Then Castro (90+2) had an opportunity to win the match in additional time but spurned the chance.

Daniel Mesenhöler keeps Union in the game

The first good chance of extra-time fell to Tuchel's charges when Ginter headed goalbound following a Götze corner, only to be denied by Mesenhöler (96), who then reacted quickly to deal with Ramos' follow-up. In the 100th minute Union had an excellent chance to go 2-1 ahead when Weidenfeller rushed off his line and was rounded by Skrzybski. The incident appeared to take the forward by surprise, as otherwise he would have surely put the ball into the empty net or squared it for Zejnullahu to slot home. Borussia had had 25 shots to Union's ten after 105 minutes, but the scores remained all square at 1-1.

In the last 15 minutes Castro (113) almost scored the all-important goal, but the 29-year-old fired over the crossbar from a central position 11 metres out. There were to be no more goals, even though BVB had dominated in terms of the match statistics, which read: 72 percent possession, 84 percent pass completion rate, 55 percent tackle win rate and 29 shots to 11.

Prospects
BVB's clash with Union Berlin was the first of three consecutive home games, the next coming in Saturday's (18:30 CET) Ruhr Derby against FC Schalke 04, which has been sold out for weeks. The following Wednesday (20:45 CET) Borussia will host Sporting Lisbon in the UEFA Champions League.

Teams & goals