BERLIN: Freiburg staged a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to beat 10-man Mainz 3-2 after extra-time on Tuesday to reach the German Cup semi-finals for the first time.

Daniel Caligiuri grabbed a stoppage-time equaliser for the visitors before scoring the winner in the 108th minute in the all-Bundesliga clash.

“We were not organised at the start and had lots of problems,” Freiburg coach Christian Streich told reporters.

“But we fought back with everything we had.

“Even if we had lost that would have been a courageous performance. I am glad to coach such a team.”

Freiburg were joined in the last four by VfL Wolfsburg who ended third-tier Kickers Offenbach’s run with a 2-1 away victory courtesy of second-half goals from Croat Ivica Olic and Dutchman Bas Dost.

Offenbach, who had beaten two Bundesliga teams and a second-tier side in previous rounds without conceding a goal, pulled one back in the 81st minute through Marcel Stadel but could not find an equaliser despite piling players forward.

In Mainz, the hosts were looking to repeat their surge to the 2009 semis and made a dream start by scoring twice in the opening four minutes.