Sunday 18 May 2014

Robben, Mueller strike as Bayern win German Cup

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Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller
scored extra-time goals as Bayern
Munich won the German Cup with
a 2-0 victory over rivals Borussia
Dortmund on Saturday.
After the first 90 minutes finished
goalless, Robben broke the drought
in the 107th-minute before Mueller
added a second in time added-on.
Coach Pep Guardiola finishes his
first season in charge of Bayern
with four trophies having already
won the Bundesliga title, Club
World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Bayern won the German Cup for a
record 17th time to claim the
domestic league and cup double --
the Champions League was the
only title to evade the Bavarian
giants this season.
Having also scored the late winner
in the 2013 Champions League
final against Dortmund at
Wembley, Netherlands winger
Robben again broke Dortmund
hearts.
And there was no fairytale finish
for Poland striker Robert
Lewandowski who had promised to
finish his four years at Dortmund
by lifting the cup before joining
Bayern next season.
This was the fourth and final time
Germany's top two sides met this
season with both sides finishing
with two wins a piece.
But it was a nervy, tense affair in
front of a 71,967 crowd at Berlin's
sold-out Olympic Stadium which
also included Hollywood star Tom
Hanks who is filming 'A Hologram
for the King' in Germany's capital.
Bayern were forced into a late
change when Austria left-back
David Alaba dropped out with a
stomach muscle injury and Brazil's
Rafinha slotted into his place.
Munich were already without
defensive midfielder Bastian
Schweinsteiger, ruled out with a
knee injury while striker Mario
Mandzukic having been dropped.
Guardiola opted to play a new
3-4-3 system and included 18-year-
old midfielder Pierre-Emile
Hoejbjerg, who was making only
his 11th first team appearance.
Dortmund were at near full
strength with Lewandowski
making his final appearance in the
yellow-black shirt.
Bayern made a bright start as
Mueller and Robben both forced
Dortmund captain and goalkeeper
Roman Weidenfeller into early
saves.
LAHM LEG INJURY
There were worrying scenes ahead
of next month's World Cup in
Brazil when Bayern's Germany
captain Philipp Lahm limped off
with half an hour gone to be
replaced by Franck Ribery.
The Bayern bench said Lahm had
taken a knock to the fibula, but it
was not serious and he is expected
to join the Germany training camp
which starts on Wednesday.
Hoejbjerg squandered a great
chance with half-time approaching
when he fired wide from the
penalty area after being left
unmarked.
At the other end, Lewandowski
cannoned his shot over the bar
moments later.
Both teams had clear chances in
the second half as Mueller's shot
at point-blank range was
smothered by Weidenfeller on 56
minutes.
And at the other end, Dortmund
defender Mats Hummels' header
was saved off the line on 64
minutes by Bayern's Dante.
After the game went to extra-time,
Robben broke the drought when
he fired home at the near post
from five metres out.
Mueller then took advantage of
tired Dortmund legs when he held
off Germany team-mate Marcel
Schmelzer and rounded
Weidenfeller just before the final
whistle as Bayern defended their
cup title.

Bayern
Munich's French midfielder Franck
Ribery (right) celebrates with
Bayern Munich's Dutch midfielder
Arjen Robben after scoring during a
past match.

By Toboa siri news

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