By Olaf Goldbecker – Surprise in Germany: Bayern Munich defeated the favorites, 1.FFC Frankfurt, 2-0 (0-0), and won the lucrative DFB Cup title for the first time in club history. Right from the start in Cologne’s Rhine Energy Stadium, Munich showed that they were not willing to donate the cup to Frankfurt. Isabel Bachor (2) and Sarah Hagen had first opportunities for score. After 10 minutes, Frankfurt slowly got into the game, but chances remained seldom on both sides. Most promising scenes happened after set pieces like Melanie Behringer’s free kick, which was not saved properly by Bayern goalie Kathrin Längert, but she had luck that the shot hit the crossbar.

A corner kick proved to be the decisive scene. Stefanie Mirlach, whose transfer to Turbine Potsdam after the season was announced this week, sent in her cross, and Hagen headed in against three defenders. Twenty-seven minutes remained for Frankfurt, but they did not create a single scoring opportunity anymore while still allowing the luxury to keep international top players like Saki Kumagai, Jessica Landström, and Sara Thunebro on the bench. One minute stoppage time was announced, and Bayern Munich made use of it to seal the deal. Hagen won an air ball and headed into the run of Ivana Rudelic, who just entered the field short before and had no problems to finish.

Frankfurt: Schumann – Weber, Bartusiak, Lewandowski, Percival – Maroszan, Smisek, Behringer, Garefrekes (70 Chojnowski), Huth – Bajramaj (40 Crnogorcevic)

Munich: Längert – Huyleur (89 Rudelic), Wenninger, de Pol, Baunach – Feiersinger, Cross, Schnaderbeck, Bürki (85 Schöne) – Hagen, Bachor (61 Lotzen)

0:1 Hagen (63 Baunach), 0:2 Rudelic (90+1 Hagen)

Attendance: 15.583 in Cologne

By Olaf Goldbecker – In the first semifinal of the German Cup, Frankfurt dominated from the start. The equalizer, after a quickly played free kick, was out of the blue, but it made Frankfurt totally get out of the game. From then on, it was a game with a huge turnover rate on both sides. Frankfurt had more ball possession, and Duisburg had seldom but bigger and better chances. The final resulted in a win for Frankfurt on penalties: 2-2 (5-4 pk).

The lead by Alexandra Popp was a spectacular 20-meter shot directly into the top right corner. Frankfurt tied after a corner kick when Kerstin Garefrekes missed the cross, but Gina Lewandowski stood unmarked behind her and headed in. In the overtime, Duisburg had more and more chances, but Frankfurt keeper Desiree Schumann kept her team in the game.

In the penalty shootout, Duisburg’s young keeper Anke Preuss saved the second shot of Ana Maria Crnogorcevic. Everybody else scored, and Annike Krahn just had to get in the last shot to clinch Duisburg’s win, but Schumann saved it. The sixth attempt was scored for Frankfurt and Linda Bresonik, who already failed two penalty kicks in the league, could not convert to give Frankfurt the win. Ironically, the two experienced cornerstones of Duisburg’s young team were the ones who didn’t have the nerves.

In the other semifinal, Bayern München will take on Hamburger SV Monday.