Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 have been knocked out of the DFB Pokal Cup after losing a 10-goal thriller with Chemnitzer FC on a penalty shootout on Friday.
Mainz and their third-tier opponents were level at 3-3 after 90 minutes, and then 5-5 following extra time before Chemnitzer won the shootout 5-3.
Christian Heidel's side, who finished seventh in the German top flight last season, opened up a 1-0 half-time lead courtesy of Niki Zimling's curling shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Three goals in the eight minutes immediately after the restart set the tone for the madness that followed as Mainz went two ahead through Japanese international striker Shinji Okazaki, before they were pegged back by an Anton Fink double.
Mainz restored their advantage when Koo Ja-Cheol collected Daniel Brosinski's pass to shoot into the bottom corner, but an 87th-minute own goal from Niko Bungert sent the tie into extra time.
Chemnitzer took the lead for the first time in the contest when Markus Ziereis headed Ronny Garbuschewski's cross home, only for Bungert to make amends and equalise for Mainz to make it 4-4.
The hosting minnows appeared to have snatched a late winner when another Garbuschewski delivery found Marco Kelh-Gomez to bury from inside the box, but there was to be another twist in the tale.
In the 122nd minute, Mainz equalised through a 30-yard Johannes Geis strike, and Chemnitzer might have been feeling that their chance had gone as the visitors took the momentum into penalties.
However, Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara, who missed in their World Cup last-16 defeat to Brazil this summer, was again the villain as his spot kick was saved by Chemnitzer keeper Philipp Pentke.
Chemnitzer scored all five of their efforts from 12 yards to secure dramatic passage into the last 16 of the competition.
Joe Fish
