Saturday 1 June 2013

Bayern match Man United in landing historic treble after holding off Stuttgart fightback in German Cup final.

Bayern Munich completed an historic treble by defeating Stuttgart to add the DFB-Pokal trophy to the Champions League and Bundesliga titles they have already won this season. Thomas Muller fired Bayern in front from the penalty spot and two goals from Mario Gomez gave Jupp Heynckes' side a commanding lead. Two goals from Martin Harnik made the game interesting, although Stuttgart could not find an equaliser as Bayern became the first German side to win three major trophies in a single season. Only three minutes were on the clock when Arjen Robben was put through left of goal by Javi Martinez and his cross was deflected just wide of the far post. Stuttgart were not going to be lambs to the slaughter, though, and they showed that with their own spirited attacking football which culminated in Antonio Rudiger's cross being volleyed just inches wide of the far post by Alexandru Maxim with Manuel Neuer beaten. Neuer was in the thick of the action midway through the first half when he first made a reaction save to deny Vedad Ibisevic, and then scampered across his goal to block Georg Niedermeier's shot on the goal line. Muller stepped up and outwitted Ulreich, sending the ball to the Stuttgart goalkeeper's right after he had already leapt in the other direction. Bayern doubled their lead almost immediately in the second half with Lahm's cross an open invitation to Gomez, who somehow managed to bundle the ball in despite hitting it against his standing leg. The game appeared to be over after an hour when Muller this time set up former Stuttgart striker Gomez with a cross from the right, and he provided a more accomplished finish from seven yards out. Stuttgart refused to lie down, though, and Harnik reduced the arrears 10 minutes later with a bullet header beyond Neuer's reach from Gotoku Sakai's cross. Shinji Okazaki had a shot saved by Neuer as Stuttgart surged forwards, getting a second goal with 10 minutes remaining when Okazaki hit the post and Harnik scored at the second time of asking, thanks in part to a slight deflection off Bastian Schweinsteiger. Ulreich scampered forward for a free-kick in stoppage time, but the Swabians were unable to find an equaliser as they, like the rest of the Bundesliga and Europe before them, took their hat off to an all-conquering Bayern side.

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