Bremen maintain professional pride

By Mark Bennett

Holders Werder Bremen beat FC Bayern München's amateur side in the German Cup quarter-finals, as FC Schalke 04 defeated Hannover 96 and DSC Arminia Bielefeld reached the last four for the first time.

Double bid
Bremen, chasing a repeat of last season's domestic double, went ahead on nine minutes through Tim Borowski. A Valérien Ismaël penalty 14 minutes later doubled the lead against the last non-Bundesliga team in the competition, who counted VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach and 2003/04 finalists TSV Alemannia Aachen among their scalps.

Bayern hopes
Borowski sealed victory just after the hour mark, but Bayern's cup dreams are not over - the senior side visit SC Freiburg in Wednesday's remaining tie fresh from a 1-0 league win against the same opposition.

Hanke magic
Two days after striking a Bundesliga winner against Hannover, Schalke striker Mike Hanke saw them off again with two goals in tonight's cup match. Hanke started working his magic on 39 minutes when he set up Gerald Asamoah for the equaliser after Nebojsa Krupnikovic had put the visitors in front from the penalty spot.

Schalke success
Four minutes later Ebbe Sand found Hanke in front of goal and the German Under-21 international made no mistake. Eight minutes into the second half Hanke scored again, and Hannover's hopes ended when Steven Cherundolo was sent off for a second booking in the 78th minute.

Arminia best
Meanwhile, Arminia overcame FC Hansa Rostock 1-0 at home to reach their first semi-final. Isaac Boakye, who had previously made only two appearances this season because of injury, hit the only goal nine minutes after the break. The semi-finals are scheduled for 19/20 April.