Last-gasp Reus penalty sends Dortmund into German Cup third round

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus scores their third goal from a penalty REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler

BERLIN (Reuters) - Borussia Dortmund needed a Marco Reus penalty late in extra time to beat second division Union Berlin 3-2 on Wednesday and book their spot in the German Cup third round.

The Berliners had twice come back from a goal down but Christian Pulisic, who scored the first goal and set up the second, earned a last-gasp penalty for Reus to convert and protect Dortmund's unbeaten run in all competitions.

The Bundesliga leaders were made to work hard against the gutsy Berliners, third in the second division, and had the 20-year-old American Pulisic to thank for the lead.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus celebrates scoring their third goal with team mates REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Dortmund, whose defender Abdou Diallo left the pitch injured after 13 minutes, never really found their footing until late in the first half.

Pulisic stabbed in on the rebound after Shinji Kagawa's header was saved by Union keeper Rafal Gikiewicz in the 40th minute.

Union hit the crossbar two minutes later with a superb effort by Kenny Prince Redondo and got a deserved equaliser through substitute Sebastian Polter who scored with his first touch.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Borussia Dortmund players celebrate in front of fans after the match REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Their joy lasted only 10 minutes, however, when Pulisic sent Maximilian Philipp through with a superb pass and the forward drilled in an equally stunning finish.

But Union refused to give up and were rewarded with another goal in the 88th as Polter's header wrong-footed keeper Marwin Hitz.

They hung on and soaked up the pressure in extra time before Pulisic was brought down for the penalty.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Union Berlin's Manuel Schmiedebach in action with Borussia Dortmund's Shinji Kagawa REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

It was even harder for Schalke 04 who had to go to penalties to beat second-tier Cologne.

Karim Bellarabi struck twice for Bayer Leverkusen in their 5-0 demolition of hosts Borussia Moenchengladbach while Werder Bremen also fired five goals past lower-ranked Weiche Flensburg in a 5-1 victory.

Substitute Timo Werner scored both goals as RB Leipzig beat Hoffenheim to book their spot in the next round.

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Union Berlin's Sebastian Polter celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Champions Bayern Munich progressed on Tuesday with a 2-1 win at fourth division club SV Roedinghausen.

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho celebrates after the match REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video

Soccer Football - DFB Cup Second Round - Borussia Dortmund v Union Berlin - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - October 31, 2018 Union Berlin's Sebastian Polter scores their first goal REUTERS/Leon Kuegeler DFL regulations prohibit any use of photographs as image sequences and/or quasi-video