Bayern Munich, third-tier Bielefeld reach German Cup semifinals on PKs

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Holder Bayern Munich overcame the absence of several key players to beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday and reach the

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Holder Bayern Munich overcame the absence of several key players to beat Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 on penalties on Wednesday and reach the semifinals of the German Cup.

With the match deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of extra time, Thiago Alcantara converted the decisive penalty in the shootout after Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had saved Josip Drmic's effort.

"Penalties are always a matter of luck," said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller, who converted from the spot. "This match cost us a lot of nerves."

Earlier, Borussia Moenchengladbach crashed out also penalties against third-division Arminia Bielefeld.

The victory kept Pep Guardiola's team on course for a repeat of the 2013 treble. His team is the far away leader in the Bundesliga and is also in the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Bayern is seeking its 18th German Cup title.

In the semifinal, Bayern will host Borussia Dortmund, the team it beat in last year's final, while Bielefeld will be at home to Wolfsburg.

Guardiola watched the shootout calmly from a chair on the sidelines.

Both teams had chances to settle the issue earlier, with Mueller coming close late in the first half and Neuer foiling Karim Bellarabi after the break. At the other end, Bernd Leno parried Robert Lewandowski's effort, before Neuer denied Bellarabi once again in a pulsating match.

Bayern's Rafinha made a vital lunging clearance to prevent Julian Brandt from getting off a clean shot as the 90 minutes came to an end.

Marioe Goetze wasted Bayern's best chance in the 98th, missing the target from close range while unchallenged at the far post.

Bayern played without the injured Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Bielefeld won its shootout 5-4 after holding the third-place Bundesliga team to a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes and then extra time. The winner reached the semifinals for the third time after 2005 and 2006, when it was still in the top tier.

Moenchengladbach's Raffael sent the opening penalty wide and Ibrahim Traora had the decisive shot saved as the third-division leader advanced.

Manuel Junglas put Bielefeld ahead in the 26th and Max Kruse equalized from the penalty spot in the 32nd.

Bielefeld had already eliminated Bundesliga sides Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin and is undefeated in 17 home matches in the third division.

GALLERY: Bayern Munich through the years

FC Bayern Munich Through the Years

1900

A Munich gymnastics club refuses to let eleven of its members join the German Football Association, so those eleven form Bayern Munich as a standalone football club that same evening.

1965

Franz Beckenbauer and Bayern Munich enter the Bundesliga for the first time, having been passed over for the initial collection of teams in favor of 1860 Munich. They win the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) in their first season and finish third in the league.

1967

The club captures its first European trophy, winning the 1967 Winner's Cup with an extra-time victory over Glasgow Rangers.

1970

Udo Lattek is hired as head coach. In two different stints in charge of the club, Lattek (seen here in '87) would coach for more days (over 3,000) and win more trophies (10) than any other coach in the club's history.

1971

The club moves from the Grunwalder Stadion to the Olympiastadion, which had been built for the 1972 Summer Olympics. It would be Bayern's home for 35 years.

1972

Bayern Munich defeats Schalke 5-1 in the first live televised match in Bundesliga history, winning that season's league title as a result.

1974

The club wins its first European Cup (now Champions League), 4-0 over Atletico Madrid. It goes on to win the competition the subsequent two years as well.

1974

The club signs Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. The striker would go on to score 162 goals for the club and is currently the CEO of the corporation that owns Bayern Munich.

1976

The club wins its first international trophy, defeating Brazilian club Cruzeiro to win the Intercontinental Cup (now abolished).

1987

Jupp Heynckes is hired as head coach. He would win two Bundesligas and two Super Cups.

1993

Norwich City defeats Lothar Matthaus and Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Olympiastadion in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League), the only time a British club was able to defeat Bayern at its old home ground.

1996

With Franz Beckenbauer as interim manager, Bayern wins the UEFA Cup final against Bordeaux, the only time they have won the competition.

1998

Ottmar Hitzfeld is hired as head coach. He would go on to coach the second-most total games and win the second-most total honors in club history (both behind Uto Lattek).

1999

Bayern loses the Champions League final in extra time to Manchester United.

2001

Bayern wins its third consecutive Bundesliga title with a stoppage-time goal against Hamburg from Patrik Andersson on a rare free kick from inside the penalty area.

2001

Bayern wins the Champions League after defeating Valencia on penalty kicks at the San Siro in Milan, Italy.

2001

Bayern wins the Intercontinental Cup in extra time against Boca Juniors, thanks to a goal from Samuel Kuffour.

2005

The club moves from the Olympiastadion to the newly-built Allianz Arena, which they share with local rivals 1860 Munich.

2008

The club hires Jurgen Klinsmann (left) as head coach following his success with the German national team at the 2006 World Cup. He is fired 10 months later.

2012

Bayern reaches the final of the Champions League in its home stadium, but loses on penalties to Chelsea. It is the first time the club is defeated by an English team in Munich.

2013

Bayern Munich wins the Bundesliga with six games left, the earliest a champion has ever secured the title. Bayern also sets the record for most points in a season, most wins in a season, and fewest defeats.

2013

Bayern wins the Champions League over rivals Borussia Dortmund with a 2-1 win at Wembley Stadium.

2013

Bayern completes the first treble in German soccer history, winning the DFB-Pokal via a 3-2 triumph over Stuttgart.

2014

Bayern ends a Bundesliga record 54-game stretch without losing by falling 1-0 to FC Augsburg.

2014

Bayern breaks its own record, securing the Bundesliga title with seven matches remaining.

2014

Club president Uli Hoeness, who had reigned since 1979, resigns after being convicted of tax fraud.

2014

The club opens offices in the Unites States in an attempt to expand its international reach.

2015

Robert Lewandowski holds up all five fingers–one for each goal he scored in a nine-minute span in a memorable 5-1 win over Bundesliga foe Wolfsburg.