Aubameyang header puts Dortmund in cup semis

Berlin: Borussia Dortmund booked their place in the German Cup semi-finals as Gabonese international forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang`s header secured them a 1-0 win in Tuesday`s last eight clash at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Just as Borussia coach Jurgen Klopp had predicted, the quarter-final was a gritty cup affair and which gave the winners the psychological upper hand ahead of the sides meeting in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Dortmund, the 2012 cup winners, are the first team into Sunday`s draw after Aubameyang`s goal seven minutes from time put Dortmund through despite missing key first-team players. Dortmund were without injured Germany midfielders Sven Bender and Marco Reus, who both suffered thigh injuries in last Saturday`s 5-1 romp at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. Centre-back Mats Hummels was out with an ankle knock, while winger Jakub Blaszczykowski and defender Neven Subotic ware out for the season with knee injuries. Frankfurt captain Pirmin Schwegler was missing with bruised ribs. Both sides had clear chances with Dortmund`s attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan firing wide as he tried to finish off a first-half chance he created while midfielders Jan Rosenthal and Johannes Flum went close for Frankfurt. Robert Lewandowski had a battle royal with his marker, Peru`s Carlos Zambrano, who at one point left the Poland striker pole-axed on the turf after a sharp elbow to the ribs, which was missed by referee Knut Kircher. Dortmund got the break-through they craved when Mkhitaryan`s corner was flicked on by captain Sebastian Kehl for Aubameyang to head just inside the back post with extra-time looming. In Wednesday`s last eight matches, Bayer Leverkusen are home to second division Kaiserslautern and Hoffenhem host VfL Wolfsburg. The top tie features Cup holders Bayern Munich away at Hamburg with the hosts in chaos after six straight league defeats. Hamburg coach Bert van Marwijk has insisted the club will "destroy itself" if the behind-the-scenes power struggle continues between the club`s executive and supervisory boards. Bayern, who routed Hamburg 9-2 in the league last season, arrive in the Hanseatic City eager to continue the defence of the German Cup they won last season to complete the treble, along with the European and league titles. It is not guaranteed van Marwijk will be in charge after Wednesday`s quarter-final at Imtech Arena with some senior club figures eager for Hamburg legend Felix Magath to take over.