Third-tier side Arminia Bielefeld came from a goal down to beat holders Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 on Tuesday and reach the final of the DFB Pokal.

Bielefeld, who have eliminated four Bundesliga teams in successive rounds of the competition, became the fourth third-tier side to reach the final of the German Cup.

"I am so proud of the team," Bielefeld coach Michel Kniat said. "The whole region is feeling this. No one will be sleeping tonight.

"We defended with a lot of passion and that was the key. We worked extremely hard. It was great to go into the break with the lead and in the second half we kept up the pressure for what was a deserved win," he added.

Leverkusen, who had never lost a German Cup game under coach Xabi Alonso, were made to work hard before taking the lead in the 17th minute when Jonathan Tah tapped in at the far post from a corner.

Their joy was short-lived, however, as Marius Woerl's low shot beat goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky to level the scores three minutes later.

Hradecky pulled off a spectacular save in the 26th minute to keep out Sarenren Bazee's point-blank shot, but Bielefeld's comeback was completed on the stroke of half-time when Maximilian Grosser volleyed home from close range.

The hosts were relentless and kept up the pressure, creating several chances after the break before Leverkusen's Patrik Schick hit the post with a header in the 81st minute.

Leverkusen, who won the league and cup double without defeat last season, are second in the Bundesliga, six points behind leaders Bayern Munich, with seven league games remaining.

VfB Stuttgart face RB Leipzig in the other semi-final on Wednesday.