Bayern Munich squeezed into the German Cup quarter-finals after a chaotic 3–2 win over Union Berlin, surviving two conceded penalties and a pair of own-goals from the hosts in the German capital on Wednesday night.
Harry Kane’s first-half header ultimately proved decisive in a match defined by a string of defensive mishaps. Bayern, who have won the competition a record 20 times, are into the last eight for only the second time in six seasons.
Union, the only German side to have taken a point off Bayern this season, were undone early when an Ansah miscue from a Joshua Kimmich corner rolled into his own net.
Another Kimmich delivery brought Bayern’s second, with Kane rising above everyone to nod home.
Union briefly fought back when Leopold Querfeld converted from the spot following a Jonathan Tah handball, but the hosts gifted Bayern a third before the interval as Diogo Leite headed a Michael Olise free-kick into his own net.
Kane’s stray elbow handed Union a second penalty early in the restart, again dispatched by Querfeld, setting up a tense finish as the home side pushed Bayern back for much of the half. Despite the pressure, Bayern held firm.
Earlier, holders Stuttgart booked their place in the last eight with a 2–0 win at Bochum, who suffered a nightmare first half as Philipp Strompf scored an own-goal before being sent off. Deniz Undav’s header sealed it shortly after the break.
Freiburg also advanced, beating Darmstadt 2–0 at home through Vincenzo Grifo’s penalty and a Lucas Höler strike.
They join Bayer Leverkusen, St Pauli, RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin, who all progressed on Tuesday.