BERLIN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Hoffenheim secured a hard-earned 5-4 (3-3) win on penalties over third division club Wurzburger Kickers in the first round of German Cup on Saturday.
Resilient Wurzburger Kickers bounced back twice to give Hoffenheim a hard time. The "TSG" eventually ensured their progression thanks to goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, who defused two penalties in the shoot-out.
Bundesliga side Hoffenheim needed some time to establish their style of play. It took the visitors thus more than 20 minutes to work out their first opportunities as Sebastian Rudy and Stefan Posch forced Wurzburger Kickers custodian Eric Verstappen into action.
The host's goalkeeper was hapless moments later after Pavel Kaderabek tapped home the opener with a follow-up shot from inside the box in the 29th minute.
Wurzburger Kickers came out strong after the break and Hoffenheim once again needed some time to gain momentum.
The visitors doubled the lead in the 54th minute when Sebastian Rudy's through ball allowed Ihlas Bebou to beat Eric Verstappen with a well-placed shot into the far post corner.
Hoffenheim's second goal seemed to be a wakening call for the hosts as they responded through Fabio Kaufmann, who failed to score from very close range in the 65th minute before reducing the arrears following a square pass four minutes later.
The third division club grew in confidence and got a penalty awarded in the 75th minute after Joshua Brenet fouled Kaufmann. Substitute Albion Vrenezi stepped up and converted the penalty into the bottom right corner to restore parity.
In the overtime, Hoffenheim took the lead in the 99th minute through Adam Szalai, who exchanged a one-two with Bebou to make it 3-2 on the scoreboards.
Wurzburger Kickers remained unimpressed and rallied back once again as Luca Pfeiffer headed home a corner kick from Vrenezi in the dying minutes of the overtime.
The first division side eventually wrapped up their berth for the next round and avoided an upsetting loss in the first round as goalkeeper Oliver Baumann saved the penalties from Kaufmann and Hendrik Hansen in the shoot-out.
Elsewhere, Werder Bremen booked the second round as substitute and veteran Claudio Pizzaro provided a brace helping the "Green-Whites" to cruise 6-1 past fifth division side Atlas Delmehorst on the road.
The following fixtures are scheduled for the first round on Sunday: Waldhof Mannheim host Eintracht Frankfurt, Osnabruck face last season's German Cup finalist Leipzig, Germania Halberstadt see Union Berlin, Eichstatt encounter Hertha Berlin and Wehen Wiesbaden clash with Cologne.
