Dortmund lose Cup shootout to Bremen after 3-3 thriller

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Werder Bremen's Max Kruse celebrates after the match REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

(Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund were knocked out of the German Cup 4-2 on penalties by visitors Werder Bremen in the last 16 on Tuesday after a thrilling 3-3 draw, with the Bundesliga leaders twice throwing away the lead in extra time.

Max Kruse netted the decisive spot kick for Bremen whose goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka had saved penalties from Dortmund's Paco Alcacer and Maximilian Philipp.

Achraf Hakimi's 113th minute strike appeared to have clinched Dortmund's place in the quarter-finals but Bremen's Martin Harnik netted six minutes later to force the shootout.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Paco Alcacer reacts after missing a penalty during the shootout REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Bremen, who are 10th in the league standings, took a fifth minute lead through Milot Rashica but Dortmund captain Marco Reus levelled in first-half stoppage time from a free kick. Reus had to be substituted due to injury after the interval.

U.S international Christian Pulisic put the hosts 2-1 ahead at the end of the first half of extra time but Claudio Pizarro levelled for Bremen after the second interval, leaving Hakimi and Harnik to trade blows for each side before the shootout.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Werder Bremen's Jiri Pavlenka saves a penalty during the shootout REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

(Reporting by Richard Martin; editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Werder Bremen players celebrate after winning the penalty shootout REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Borussia Dortmund's Maximilian Philipp looks dejected after missing a penalty during the shootout REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

Soccer Football - DFB Cup - Third Round - Borussia Dortmund v Werder Bremen - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - February 5, 2019 Borussia Dortmund players during the penalty shootout REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler