Dresden stun Schalke in Cup

Third-division Dynamo Dresden seemed little more than a formality for Schalke before the match - a chance to try out new signings Sidney Sam and Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting on either flank.

Instead, Schalke started to wobble half-way into the first period, when Felipe Santana clumsily conceded a penalty sliding in on Luca Dürholtz. Justin Eilers (number 11, peeling away to celebrate in picture above) calmly sent Ralf Fährmann the wrong way to put Dresden ahead.

Early in the second half, Dresden punished further defensive instability from the Royal Blues. Joel Matip failed to clear a low cross from his left, instead pushing the ball out into the path of Nils Teixera; the Bonn-born summer signing volleyed low into the far corner to put the underdogs 2-0 in front.

Coach Jens Keller swiftly ordered Julian Draxler, resting on the bench for what was meant to be an easy match, to suit up, bringing on his star attacker. As before Draxler's introduction, Schalke dominated possession without frequently finding the keys to unlock the third-division defense.

The Royal Blues did pull a goal back with 11 minutes to play. Felipe Santana was left unmarked at the far post and volleyed an indirect free-kick towards goal. Benjamin Kirsten parried Santana's shot away, only for Joel Matip to dive to head home the rebound. Still, Schalke could not find the equalizer in the closing phases - Julian Draxler tested Kirsten from long range after a solo run, and Christian Clemens could have forced extra time with a better-struck volley in the penalty area in the closing seconds. Dresden had missed out on the cup altogether last season, banned for fan misbehavior in the season before that.

Schalke therefore join fellow Bundesliga sides Mainz, Stuttgart, Augsburg and Paderborn on the DFB Pokal scrap heap, after amost one-third of Germany's top-tier sides failed to dispatch their minor opposition over the weekend.

Hamburg go the distance, survive

Hamburg and Cottbus drew 2-2 over 120 minutes on Monday evening, with HSV finally looking assured when it came to the shootout. As Rene Adler saved two of the first three penalties he faced, HSV's first four shooters made no mistake, wrapping up a 4-1 win in the shootout.

Adler had conceded a penalty in the first half, bundling over an Energie Cottbus attacker in his box. Energie held firm for much fo the match, and HSV only claimed the equalizer from a set piece. Heiko Westermann leapt highest to meet Rafael van der Vaart's curling free kick, tying the score after 70 minutes. Despite some furious late pressure, the only team never to have been relegated from the Bundesliga couldn't find a winner.

A Van der Vaart's set piece provided Hamburg's second in extra time - this time a direct curler over the wall and into the top corner from the Dutchman's luscious left peg. Cottbus, never willing to lie down, fired staight back through Sven Michel - forcing the ill-fated shootout in front of their home fans.

Kickers Offenbach and Heidenheim slay 'mini-Goliaths'

As Cottbus put up a brave fight, the night's other "underdogs" hosting sides from higher leagues managed to slay their respective giants. Kickers Offenbach bested second-division FC Ingolstadt in their penalty shootout, having held the visitors to a scoreless draw over 90 minutes and extra time.

FC Heidenheim didn't need bonus minutes or spot kicks, eliminating the second Bundesliga's Union Berlin 2-1 in the normal 90. Heidenheim did make use of a spot kick, however, with Marc Schnatterer converting a somewhat controversial penalty, awarded for a handball. Union only had themselves to blame for Heidenheim's second, a completely unmarked header at the back post for Adriano Grimaldi. The favorites came into the game in the latter stages, pulling one back courtesy of Fabian Schönheim - but the comeback stopped with this 79th-minute goal.