The latest loss for VfB Stuttgart is especially bitter: not only is it their fifth in a row, but it cost them a shot at the German Soccer Cup. The 1-0 loss in the third round of the competition also came from a team in Germany's second Bundesliga, Greuther Fuerth.

Stuttgart conceded the lead in the 32nd minute when Leonhard Haas fed Greuther Fuerth midfielder Bernd Nehrig a sharp pass, which Nehrig ripped past Stuttgart keeper Jens Lehmann.

While Stuttgart is still clinging to life in the group stage of the Champions League, the German Cup loss cast further doubt on the job security of Stuttgart coach Marcus Babbel, who admitted his future was up in the air.

"I do not know where I stand with the club now," he said.

The team's manager, Horst Heldt, declined to give a specific comment regarding Babbel's future.

"We will sit down and think about it," Heldt said.

Stuttgart face a tough challenge in the Bundesliga this the weekend with a home match against fifth place Bayern Munich. Stuttgart are currently in fourteenth in the Bundesliga.

Third division underdogs among final eight

Stuttgart weren't the only Bundesliga team to exit the German Cup in the third round on Tuesday. Borussia Dortmund lost 3-2 to third division team Osnabrueck, who have become the giant-killers in the German Cup. Osnabrueck also sent second-place Hamburg home in the second round.

Italian midfielder Angelo Barletta picked up two goals for Osnabrueck in the first half, and Benjamin Siegert added the third midway through the second half. Nuri Sahin and Lucas Barrios found the back of the net for Dortmund.

FC Cologne advanced to the round of eight with a comfortable 3-0 win over regional team Eintracht Trier, and second league side Augsburg coasted through with a 5-0 beating of fellow second division side Duisburg.

The German Cup continues on Wednesday as Eintracht Frankfurt host Bayern Munich, Schalke 04 play away against Munich 1860, Hoffenheim host Koblenz and Kaiserslautern are at Werder Bremen.

mz/afp/DPA

Editor: Nigel Tandy