Leverkusen lost to third-tier Bielefeld.

Holders Bayer Leverkusen are knocked out as third-tier Arminia Bielefeld reach the DFB Cup final.

Bayer Leverkusen were the latest victims of Arminia Bielefeld's giant-killing DFB Cup campaign, with the third-tier club coming from behind to win 2-1 and go to the final.

Bielefeld had defeated Bundesliga teams Union Berlin (2-0), Freiburg (3-1) and Werder Bremen (2-1) in previous rounds to go to the final four, but there was a general belief that Xabi Alonso's defending cup holders would be too much for them. So, when Jonathan Tah volleyed home an early goal from Amine Adli's flick-on at a corner, the game appeared to be going as planned.

Bielefeld quickly equalized after Marius Wörl took advantage of a loose ball inside the Leverkusen penalty area and curled a shot past Lukáš Hrádecký. Bielefeld's home crowd cheered them on, and they nearly scored again when Noah Sarenren Bazee went one-on-one with Hrádecký. However, the goalie made an incredible save. On the stroke of halftime, Maximilian Großer volleyed in a tricky Louis Oppie free-kick, giving the hosts a slender edge.

Alonso sent on Victor Boniface early in the second half as Leverkusen tried to claw their way back into the game, but Bielefeld refused to give up. They should have gone ahead by two goals when Oppie got space on the left byline and cut the ball back for Joel Grodowski, but he scuffed his effort from close range and it went wide.

It wasn't a one-off either. The third-tier club refused to sit back and preserve their lead, instead pushing forward and troubling the Bundesliga winners. Jonas Kerksen saved Boniface's header, then Patrik Schick brushed the outside of the post with a header off Jeremie Frimpong's exquisite cross. That was the best Alonso's side could do, as they pushed for a trademark late goal but were unable to find it against their tenacious hosts, who rightfully advanced to the DFB Cup final for the first time.

Wörl of Arminia has the competition's most goal involvements, with three goals and three assists.

Bielefeld has never advanced beyond the semifinals of the DFB Cup. They last made it to the final four in 2004/05, where they lost to Bayern, and again in 2014/15, when they were beaten by Wolfsburg.

Arminia had previously been eliminated three times by Leverkusen in the cup, so this was their first victory over them.

Schick is the competition's leading scorer this season, with four goals in five matches.

This was Alonso's first setback as coach in the DFB Cup, having previously won all ten matches.

Prior to recent season, Leverkusen had won the DFB Cup only once, in 1992/93.

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