Photo courtesy of Hoffenheim
AMSTERDAM — Fabian Johnson and Daniel Williams became the first Americans to clinch a spot in the final eight of the DfB Pokal, aiding Hoffenheim to 2-1 victory over visiting Augsburg on Tuesday.
With Johnson again starting at left back and Williams off the bench into midfield with seven minutes to play, the hosts reached the German Cup quarterfinals for the third straight year on the strength of a 49th-minute winner from St. Louis University product Vedad Ibisevic.
Elsewhere, the news was not nearly as good for Timothy Chandler and FC Nürnberg, who took their exit from the tourney with a 1-0 home defeat to archrivals Greuther Fürth.
The 255th Franken-derby was the first for the American, who made his first-ever club start at left back. Chandler was largely quiet on the night, but it was his mark that turned home a flicked-on corner for the lone goal in the 15th minute.
Over in the English Premier League, Zak Whitbread worked a decent shift as Norwich City's road win drought reached six games after a 2-2 draw at Wolverhampton. The Canaries twice blew the lead, with Ronald Zubar's corner-kick header nine minutes from time knotting matters for good.
