Union Berlin send Hertha out of German Cup

Union Berlin have delivered another demoralising blow to city rivals Hertha Berlin by dumping their neighbors out of the German Cup with a 3-2 away win in the round of 16.

Union won their previous meeting 2-0 in the Bundesliga in November and the latest success consolidates the upstart club's status of "Stadtmeister" (city champion) over its long-suffering rival.

"We gave everything and I think we thoroughly deserved to win," Union forward Max Kruse said. "We have music. We'll celebrate a bit."

Union have been enjoying an upward trajectory since their first promotion to the Bundesliga in 2019, while Hertha have been struggling to live up to expectations since a huge financial investment in the club from Lars Windhorst the same summer.

Goals from Andreas Voglsammer and Robin Knoche, and an own-goal from Hertha defender Niklas Stark, sent Union through to the quarter-finals -- and two wins from reaching the final in the same stadium.

Union scored in the 11th minute when Voglsammer stretched to reach a deep cross and lopped it inside the far post.

Vladimir Darida sent a great chance over after the break for Hertha, before Stark deflected Levin Oztunali's cross inside his own net for Union's second goal in the 50th.

An own-goal by Rani Khedira pulled one back for Hertha four minutes later, but Robin Knoche scored Union's third goal a minute after that.

"We defend like a school team," Hertha sporting director Arne Friedrich said. "It's hard to comprehend."

Hertha kept pushing, even after Stark went off with an apparent injury, as Union adopted a more defensive stance. Hertha captain Dedryck Boyata might have scored with a header from a promising position if not for a subtle shove in his back.

For all the home team's efforts, however, it couldn't find a way through. By the time Serdar scored with his chest in injury time, it was too late.

Borussia Monchengladbach were knocked out in a 3-0 loss at second-division Hannover. Gladbach defeated Bayern Munich 5-0 in the previous round

Defending champions Dortmund lost at St. Pauli on Tuesday.

Leipzig substitute Dani Olmo scored with his first touch on a counterattack to seal a 2-0 win over second-division Hansa Rostock.

Also, Freiburg won 4-1 at Hoffenheim to reach the quarter-finals.