DFB-Pokal: Captain Tapsoba leads Leverkusen's five-star comeback against Nürnberg
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Bayer Leverkusen advanced to the Round of 16 in the DFB-Pokal after their flattering 5-2 victory over Nürnberg.
Miroslav Klose's side were efficient with their first two chances of the game, despite the continued absence of their star striker Mohamed Ali Zoma. Rafael Lubach provided that efficiency for the first goal with a brilliant strike.
William Bøving provided his second assist of the night when he set up Sigured Haugen's goal at the half-hour mark with a perfect counter-attacking football from the 2. Bundesliga side. Nathan Tella, who started the game as Patrik Schick replacement, failed to convert two gilt-edged chances at the other end.
However, Carles Martinez's side got a lifeline before the half-time break. Edmond Tapsoba scored for the first time since being appointed Leverkusen's captain from Aleix Garcia's corner-kick delivery. It was also Tapsoba who leveled the score moments after Fynn Otto nearly beat his own goalkeeper Jan Reichert.
The Burkinabe defender once again scored from a set-piece opportunity despite Reichert initially saving his first attempt. Leverkusen continued to push to avoid extra-time, and they succeeded in doing so when Alexis Kalogeropoulos fouled substitute Schick inside the box.
The Czechia striker slipped while taking the resulting penalty-kick, but Reichert went down the other way as Leverkusen took the lead with twenty minutes left to play. Schick, whose record-breaking Bundesliga scoring streak came to an end on matchday 7, has already reached double-digit goals in all competitions.
Jonas Hofmann and Lucas Vazquez added two spectacular goals to make it a flattering scoreline for the Bundesliga side. Although Nürnberg seemed capable of producing one of the surprising results of the round at some point, Leverkusen were dominant throughout the tie.
Nürnberg will hope to end their three-game winless run in 2. Bundesliga when they face St. Pauli away from home on Sunday. Bayer Leverkusen will host historic clubs Stuttgart and Marseille before traveling to neighbours Köln, who were the first team to win Bundesliga in 1964.
