Title holders Bayer Leverkusen fought from two goals down to beat second division Cologne 3-2 in extra time, as Patrik Schick scored the equaliser deep into stoppage time and Victor Boniface got the winner as
Cologne seemed to be heading towards a huge upset in the western German derby match when Damian Downs opened the scoring late in the first half after some poor defending, and then fed Linton Maina for 2-0 in the 54th minute.
Schick pulled one back in the 61st after being superbly set up by former Cologne academy player Florian Wirtz, and forced extra time with a header into the bottom left corner six minutes into stoppage time.
Attacking partner Boniface then beat a defender to a cross from the left by Alejandro Grimaldo, who had hit the crossbar in the first half, to volley home the winner in the 98th minute.
Cologne thought that they had levelled for 3-3 in the 111th from substitute Imad Rondic but the goal was nullified upon review because he was marginally offside.
The hard fought win shoots Leverkusen into the German Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.
