News Sports Soccer Bayern Munich beats Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in German Cup final

Bayern Munich beats Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in German Cup final

BERLIN : Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller struck in extra time for Bayern Munich to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the German Cup final on Saturday, giving their side the double in Pep Guardiola's first

bayern munich beats borussia dortmund 2 0 in german cup final bayern munich beats borussia dortmund 2 0 in german cup final
BERLIN : Arjen Robben and Thomas Mueller struck in extra time for Bayern Munich to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the German Cup final on Saturday, giving their side the double in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge.

  
Robben scored in the 107th minute when Jerome Boateng intercepted Roman Weidenfeller's throw out for Kevin Grosskreutz, and then crossed for the Dutchman at the far post.
   
It set up a frenetic finale with Dortmund pushing for the equalizer that would have taken the game to penalties.
   
Marco Reus came agonizingly close to equalizing in the final minute when his shot was deflected just over.
   
Mueller then rounded Weidenfeller to wrap up the win in extra time injury time.
   
Dortmund might have been awarded a goal in the second half. Mats Hummels thought he'd scored with a header but Dante cleared on or behind the line. The score wasn't awarded though TV replays suggested the ball crossed the line.
   
"If that goal from Dortmund was awarded it would have changed everything," Guardiola acknowledged.
   
Bayern avenged its humiliating 5-2 loss to Dortmund in the 2012 final with its record 16th German Cup final win.
   
"The most important thing is that we won. It's always something special. We took a lot of flak in the last weeks," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said, referring to criticism after its Champions League loss to Real Madrid and drop of form after claiming the Bundesliga title with a record seven games to spare.
   
Both sides effectively nullified the other's attacking threat. Robben posed Bayern's biggest danger going forward but was dealt with adequately by Hummels or thwarted at the last by Weidenfeller, who made crucial saves.
   
Robert Lewandowski, playing his last game for Dortmund before joining Bayern on July 1, was kept in check by Boateng and Dante, with Javi Martinez also helping out in the Bavarian side's defense.
   
Bayern, which beat Stuttgart in last year's final, created marginally the better chances in the first half.
   
Franck Ribery, who came on for the injured Lahm, crossed for Mueller at the beginning of the second half only for Weidenfeller to save from close range.
   
Reus struck the crossbar with a deflected free kick, though Manuel Neuer, playing in his fourth consecutive German Cup final, had it covered.
   
Dortmund was then left to rue Hummels' "goal" that wasn't given.
   
"We'll still celebrate because it was a great season," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said.
   
Bayern players celebrated the club's 10th league and cup double by hoisting Guardiola high in the air and dousing each other in beer.
   
"I don't particularly like the beer showers but that's how it is," said Guardiola, who was drenched by Dante.
   
Boateng said the players would "celebrate without end. We've won the double in my hometown. There are no words for it. Compliments to Dortmund, they made it very difficult. But in the end, we had the bigger chances and we deserved it."