Hamburg - Theofanis Gekas and Patrick Helmes scored in extra-time as Bayer Leverkusen came from behind to overcome second-division Rot-Weiss Oberhausen 3-2 in the first round of the German Cup on Sunday. Meanwhile fellow Bundesliga teams Wolfsburg, Karlsruhe and VfB Stuttgart chalked up comfortable victories against lower-league sides to progress to the second round.
Newly-promoted Hoffenheim also advanced but were made to struggle in a 1-0 win at fourth-division side Chemnitz.
Leverkusen came close to being the first Bundesliga side to be eliminated from this season's competition when they conceded an injury-time goal and then went behind in extra-time at Oberhausen.
But Greek striker Gekas in the 104th minute and new signing Helmes seven minutes later rescued a victory for Leverkusen under new coach Bruno Labbadia.
Renato Augusto had put Leverkusen ahead in the 69th minute but the home side levelled three minutes into stoppage time through Julian Luettmann and took the lead in the seventh minute of extra time through Mike Terranova.
Wolfsburg had to be patient against fourth-division Heidenheim before running out 3-0 winners, while Karlsruhe enjoyed a 5-0 win at fifth division side Ansbach.
Bundesliga clubs have had little trouble against amateur-league sides, with the first round passing off without a giant-killing act.
In the last match of the round later Sunday, cup holders Bayern Munich visit third-division Rot-Weiss Erfurt.
Wolfsburg had to wait until the second half at Heidenheim to open the scoring when Brazilian striker Grafite scored from a narrow angle in the 54th minute.
Turkish striker Mahir Saglik added a second three minutes later and was again on target in the 75th.
Antonio da Silva (13), Sebastian Freis (16), Alexander Iashvili (37), Edmond Kapllani (55) and Massimilian Porcella (76) shared the goals in Karlsruhe's comfortable 5-0 win at Ansbach.
Germany striker Mario Gomez scored twice as VfB Stuttgart chalked up a 5-0 win at fifth-division Hansa Lueneburg, with Martin Lanig, Robert Hilbert and an Andre Berger own goal completing the tally.
Newly-promoted top-flight club Hoffenheim scraped a 1-0 win at fourth-division Chemnitz courtesy of a 77th-minute goal from Vedad Ibisevic.
On Saturday, Croatia striker Ivica Olic struck twice in three minutes as SV Hamburg came from behind to beat second-division Ingolstadt 3-1.
Werder Bremen ran riot in a 9-3 victory at fifth-division Eintracht Nordhorn with Markus Rosenberg bagging four and fellow striker Hugo Almeida three, while newly-promoted Bundesliga side Moenchengladbach demolished seventh-division Fichte Bielefeld 8-1.
Last season's losing finalists Borussia Dortmund enjoyed a 3-1 win at fourth-division Rot-Weiss Essen in the first competitive game in charge for coach Juergen Klopp.
Schalke's new Dutch coach Fred Rutten saw his side in complete control for a 3-0 win at fifth-division Homburg.
Top-flight side Hanover coasted into the next round with a 5-0 win at fourth-division Halle, while Eintracht Frankfurt were 3-0 winners at fourth-division Pfullendorf.
Visiting Cottbus joined the Bundesliga contingent to progress with a 3-0 win at fifth-division Berlin side Tennis Borussia, while Cologne (5-1 against SV Niederauerbach), Hertha Berlin (3-1 against Eintracht Trier) and Bochum (6-5 on penalties against Preussen Muenster) advanced in matches on Thursday and Friday.
Elsewhere Sunday, fourth-division outfit Oberneuland caused an upset by eliminating second-division Koblenz on penalties. After the teams finished 1-1 after extra-time, the Bremen district team won the shoot-out 5-4.
