DFB Pokal: MSV Duisburg 2 Energie Cottbus 1

MSV Duisburg reached the final of the DFB Pokal Cup with a 2-1 win over Energie Cottbus, despite going down to 10 men on Tuesday.

Stefan Maierhofer put hosts MSV 1-0 ahead in the all-second division semi-final at the Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena.

Austrian forward Maierhofer took advantage of a failed clearance from Uwe Hunemeier to head home the opener 24 minutes into the match.

Serbian striker Srdjan Baljak made it 2-0 after the interval with a close-range finish after an excellent pass from Ivica Banovic.

MSV appeared to be cruising toward the final before Bruno Soares brought down Jules Remenick inside the area with 13 minutes remaining.

Nils Petersen converted the spot-kick and Soares received his marching orders, leaving MSV a man down and now just one goal ahead.

Hunemeier came inches away from atoning for his earlier error but he saw a goal-bound header cleared off the line by Olivier Veigneau in the 89th minute.

Jiahyi Shao also hit the post for Cottbus, but MSV held out to reach their first final since 1998.

They will play the winner of a semi-final between Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich and Schalke 04, who meet on Wednesday.