Dortmund survive major scare to advance in DFB Pokal after extra time

Borussia Dortmund scored a pair of dramatic late goals to overcome a major scare and advance in the DFB Pokal with a 2-1 extra-time win at second-tier Greuther Furth on Monday.

Lucien Favre's first competitive game in charge of Dortmund appeared headed for disaster with his side trailing into the final seconds of the 90 minutes, when new signing Axel Witsel found the latest of equalisers.

And just as the clock struck 120 minutes in the extra period, Marco Reus found a winner to help Dortmund avoid a shootout -- and potentially their first opening-round exit in Germany's cup competition since 2005.

Dortmund controlled the majority of the first half and came close to finding a breakthrough a number of times, with Reus and Christian Pulisic looking particularly threatening.

Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic
LUKAS BARTH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

It was a similar story after the break with Pulisic hitting the crossbar and the visitors squandering more chances before they were punished for their wastefulness.

Furth took the lead on one of their very few opportunities in the 77th minute when Daniel Keita-Ruel sent a cross over goalkeeper Roman Burki to the foot of Sebastian Ernst.

And Dortmund remained frustrated until mere seconds before the final whistle, when Reus sent in a hopeful cross that found Witsel in the six-yard box to slot home an equaliser.

The game appeared destined for penalties until substitute Jadon Sancho made a good run to the endline and cut the ball back to the middle for Reus to slot home his winner from 10 yards, stunning the minnows and sparing Favre any further humiliation.

Dortmund's win concluded a first round filled with drama that saw holders Eintracht Frankfurt suffer a shock exit at lower-tier club Ulm, while Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich were also made to sweat for a 1-0 win over amateurs Dorchtersens/Assel.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.