Bayern reach semis

Holders Bayern Munich reached the German Cup semifinals after beating Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday as their last eight clash finished goalless after extra time.

This is the sixth year in a row that Bayern have reached the semifinals.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was Bayern's hero at Leverkusen's BayArena after saving Swiss striker Josip Drmic's first spot-kick penalty to give Bayern the advantage.

Thomas Mueller, Robert Lewandowski, Xabi Alonso, Mario Goetze and finally Thiago Alcantara, who is just back from a year's absence with injury, all then drilled home their spot kicks to put Munich in the last four.

"No-one deserved to lose a game like that," said Neuer.

"You could really see that no-one wanted to make a mistake.

"Of course, it's a bitter result for Leverkusen, they really put a lot into it."

In the semifinals, Bayern will host Borussia Dortmund with Wolfsburg home to third-division Arminia Bielefeld when the semifinals are played on April 28 and 29.

"That's ok for us, if you want to win the cup you need to beat the best teams, so it's Dortmund for us," said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola.

Earlier, minnows Bielefeld produced a classic German Cup upset by knocking out Bundesliga high-fliers Borussia Moenchengladbach as their quarterfinal was also decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Lucien Favre's Gladbach, who are set to play Champions League football next season, become the third Bundesliga side after Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin to lose to Arminia on their march to the semifinals.

Bielefeld held their nerve to win the penalty shoot-out 5-4 as it finished 1-1 after extra-time.

Arminia took the lead at their sold-out Schueco-Arena after midfielder Manuel Junglas fired home with 26 minutes gone.

But Gladbach, who are third in the Bundesliga table, drew level six minutes later when striker Max Kruse converted a penalty.

Third-division leader Bielefeld will pick up at least two million euros ($2.1m) for reaching the semifinals.

On Tuesday, a thunderbolt of a shot from veteran midfielder Sebastian Kehl sealed Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 extra-time win over Hoffenheim to book their place in the last four.