Mario Gomez blasted a hat-trick in the space of six breathless minutes at the end as fifteen-time winners Bayern progressed to the 19th DFB Cup final in their history, a heady mix of individual class and ruthless finishing proving more than enough to dismiss spirited but ultimately toothless Wolfsburg in Tuesday’s semi-final.
The 71,000 full house at the Allianz Arena saw FCB slowly but surely ease into the driving seat and take a 17th-minute lead through ex-Wolves striker Mario Mandzukic. Arjen Robben doubled the score after 35 minutes, but the resilient visitors pulled one back through Diego on the stroke of half-time, the first goal Munich have conceded in the cup this season.
The excellent Xherdan Shaqiri restored the two-goal advantage and killed off any whiff of an upset five minutes after the restart, before the home side turned the screw at the end, sub Gomez helping himself to a spectacular hat-trick between the 80th and 86th minutes to turn a clear-cut victory into a rout.
Bayern now contest the final at Berlin Olympic Stadium on the first Saturday in June, where they meet the winners of tomorrow’s second semi-final between Stuttgart and surprise package Freiburg. The Bavarians are next in action away to Hannover in the Bundesliga next Saturday, a match destined to serve as an appetizer for the monumental Champions League semi-final first leg showdown with Barcelona just three days later.
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