Dortmund reach 13th Cup semis amid ticket protest by Stuttgart fans

Borussia Dortmund reached the German Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win at VfB Stuttgart on Tuesday as fans protested against high ticket prices by staying away at the start and throwing tennis balls on to the pitch.

Several thousand Dortmund supporters spent the opening 20 minutes away from their seats at the Mercedes Benz arena while a banner saying 'football should be affordable' stretched across the empty spaces.

The visiting fans, however, got their money's worth for the entrance fee when German international Marco Reus fired the ball in from close range in the fifth minute.

Stuttgart's Lukas Rupp levelled with a deflected effort in the 21st minute before a shower of tennis balls cascaded on to field from the Dortmund section.

Reus then turned provider by sending Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang through for a fine finish.

Aubameyang created the third goal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a minute to go.

Elsewhere, Werder Bremen went through with a 3-1 victory at Bayer Leverkusen who had Brazilian defender Wendell sent off in the 41st minute.

Favourites Bayern Munich visit second tier VfL Bochum on Wednesday when Hertha Berlin also travel to second tier Heidenheim.